Parents demand urgent action following tragic deaths of two children in Laois

The tragic death of a second child in less then two years has prompted Portlaoise residents to launch a campaign and petition to improve road safety in the town’s estates. 

“Every day, families in Portlaoise face serious road safety risks right outside their homes. Estates like Kilminchy, Fairgreen, Esker Hills, Maryborough, and Bellingham were designed for a much lower volume of traffic than they now experience. With narrow roads, obstructed footpaths due to a lack of adequate parking, reckless speeding, and inadequate crossings, pedestrians—especially children—are in constant danger,” the petition states. 

The petition was launched following the tragic death of five-year-old Aaron Hussain, who lost his life when he was struck by a car in Kilminchy on Saturday, February  22, 2025.  Aaron was the second young child to die as a result of being struck by a car in an estate in Portlaoise in just 18 months. Sadly, three-year-old Rosaleen 'Rosie' McDonagh was also tragically killed when she was struck by a car in Fairgreen in August of 2023. 

Pictured above: Aaron Hussain and Rosaleen 'Rosie' McDonagh RIP

Concerned residents are mounting a campaign to improve safety in estates around the town. They have set up a group called Portlaoise Parents for Safer Streets to campaign for road safety improvements. 

The group, which has contacted local elected representatives, set up a Facebook page and began the petition calling for urgent action for safer streets in the wake of the fatalities. They say action is needed urgently to prevent a further loss of life.  

Bellingham resident Kate Reardon-Noblet is one of those campaigning. She said Bellingham was built with similar traffic specifications as Fairgreen and Kilminchy and the estates share the same issues. 

“The parallels between these developments are deeply concerning, and residents fear that unless proactive measures are taken, Bellingham will suffer a similar fate,” she said. 

Ms Reardon-Noblet identified a number of key areas of concern for residents in Bellingham Estate. 

These included “narrow roads due to extensive on-street parking outside densely built homes, leading to reduced visibility and unsafe driving conditions" and a lack of deterrents to prevent speeding. Illegal parking on bends and obstructed pathways were also highlighted. 

“In response to these urgent concerns, I have formally contacted Laois County Council and our local TDs—William Aird, Seán Fleming, and Brian Stanley—calling for immediate intervention,” she explained.  

She requested traffic calming measures which included the installation of bollards and ramps, the new signage, increased enforcement and designated pedestrian crossings. 

Ms Reardon-Noblet said the response from the community has been strong, and support continues to grow.

“Last week, we had significant engagement from local representatives. Deputy Seán Fleming visited the estate on Saturday, March 1st, and was deeply concerned about the dangers, particularly for children. He left with a hard copy of our residents’ proposals and committed to tackling the issue. Deputy Willie Aird has arranged for senior Council Engineers, Wes Wilkinson and Paul McLoughlin, to visit the estate to meet with our group and conduct a risk assessment. We also spoke with Deputy Brian Stanley and Councillor Caroline Dwane Stanley, both of whom are eager to visit and have committed to pushing for further safety measures. Additionally, Naeem Iqbal, a Fianna Fáil party member and fellow Bellingham resident, has been very supportive and is actively engaging with the issue,” she said. 

Portlaoise Parents for Safer Streets is determined to keep campaigning until their demands are met. The online petition can be accessed by clicking here.