Driver who struck Richie McDonagh on the North Circular Road is still at large

The father of a Neasden schoolboy killed by a hit-and-run driver has spoken about his immense grief as the police battle to bring the motorist to justice.

Richie McDonagh, 11, died after he was struck while crossing the North Circular Road near his home in Linton Close on November 29, 2008.

Four years on the police believe they have traced the driver, who fled back to his home town in Ukraine, but face a battle to have him extradited as the UK has no treaty with the eastern European country. Martin McDonagh told the Times the family is no closer to coming to terms with his son’s death as the driver is still free.

He said: “How can he live with himself. How can he go around doing his day-today business knowing he has taken away the life of an innocent boy?”

Richie’s death was a double tragedy for the family as he was killed hours after his maternal grandmother lost her battle with cancer.

He was crossing the road with his brother Shane, who was 12 at the time, when he was hit by the car which did not stop and was thrown into the pathway of a second car, which did stop.

The female driver was exonerated by police.

Mr McDonagh, who has two daughters and three other sons with wife Sarah, added: “Richie’s younger brother Gerry was two when he died and his sister Rhiannon was only two weeks but they know who he is.

“They talk about Richie all the time as all the family do. We will never ever get over this but feel questions need to be answered and they can only be done so when the driver is caught.If anyone out there knows anything about his whereabouts please come forward and help us find some sort of closure.”

Anyone with information can call Alperton Traffic Collision Unit on 020 8998 5319 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.