Retired Army Major mown down by uninsured hit-and-run driver during 300-mile cycle trip condemns ‘despicable coward’ who left him for dead as he is jailed for just 12 weeks
- Major Cathal O’Reilly left fighting for life after being run over by William Jones
- Jones fled the scene to book into a hotel instead of getting help for the major
- O’Reilly was four miles from the end of a 32-hour cycle from London to Holyhead
An Army Major mown down by an uninsured hit-and-run driver minutes before the end of a 300-mile cycle trip has slammed the ‘despicable coward’ who left him for dead – and received just a 12-week prison sentence.
Major Cathal O’Reilly was left fighting for his life on a dual carriageway in North Wales as he was run over by William Jones, who fled to book into a hotel instead of getting help.
The 51-year-old had set off from London to the ferry seaport of Holyhead, Anglesey, before being hit by Jones just four miles from the end of his 32-hour trip.
A court heard Jones, 61, crashed into his victim before speeding off, as a passerby dialled 999 to save the victim’s life.
Major O’Reilly, who had captained the Sandhurst and Irish Guards rowing crews in his youth, said he had gone ‘unexpectedly from being satisfied with his journey to fighting for his life.’
Major Cathal O’Reilly was left fighting for his life on a dual carriageway in North Wales as he was run over by William Jones (pictured), who fled to book into a hotel instead of getting help
He said: ‘Before the accident I was fit and healthy. Now I am lucky to be alive.’
Major O’Reilly suffered a broken back, pelvis and leg and underwent 22 hours of surgery in the first two days of treatment.
He had skin grafts and his right leg looks like it has a ‘rugby sock stuffed under the skin’.
Major O’Reilly had graduated from Trinity College, Dublin and Sandhurst and risen to the rank of major in the Irish Guards for 12 years. Later he became a business consultant.
On the collision, he said: ‘We are all human and make mistakes. I cannot and will not accept that someone living in the same society as me might go to a hotel without calling the emergency services.’
He feels ‘shame and contempt that this man is British’. As for his injuries, he feels pain and struggles sometimes to get to the toilet in time.
His wife and daughter have become his ‘babysitters’ – but said: ‘I feel indescribable gratitude for the exceptional woman who stopped and called for help.’
Prosecutor Diane Williams told the court Jones was on his way to Ireland in Peugeot in September 19 when he hit the cyclist on a slip road before fleeing to a hotel.
She said a member of the public spotted debris on the road at about 8.25pm that night. She stopped and saw what she thought was yellow rubbish but realised it was someone in a high visibility jacket.
Paramedics took him to Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital in Bangor and he was transferred to the Royal Stoke University Hospital.
The 51-year-old had set off from London to the ferry seaport of Holyhead, Anglesey, before being hit by Jones just four miles from the end of his 32-hour trip
Police traced Jones’ car to a Premier Inn hotel in Holyhead. He said he had drunk cider at the hotel and there was ‘significant’ damage to his car.
Chris Dawson, defending, said it was a sad case after a ‘moment of carelessness’. His unemployed client had thought he had hit a bollard and was ‘horrified’ when he realised he had hit a cyclist.
Jones, of Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, pleaded guilty at Caernarfon Magistrates Court to a series of offences.
He was jailed for 12 weeks for failing to stop at the scene of an accident and for failing to report an accident.
They disqualified him from driving for 12 months after he is released from jail.
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