Navan community praised as Mia Lily’s mum calls for road safety changes

The mother of 16-year-old Mia Lily O’Keefe, who was fatally injured in a hit-and-run incident in Navan last month, has called for urgent action on road safety while praising the support of the local community in the wake of her daughter’s death.

Mia Lily, who was out walking her pet dog Bowie who was also killed was just yards from her Belmont home when they were struck by a car that failed to remain at the scene on the Slane Road in a tragedy that has deeply shocked the local community and beyond.

A man was later arrested in connection with the incident and a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Her mother, Louise Keogh O’Keefe, said the response from people locally and across Meath has been a source of comfort during an unimaginably difficult time.

Louise and her husband Stephen have both spoken publicly in recent days about their loss and the need for improved road safety measures.

“Local people have just been amazing,” she said.

“The amount of cards and kind words it’s been phenomenal. It really has.”

Earlier this month a large memorial walk took place in Navan in honour of Mia Lily and her beloved dog Bowie, following the route they walked together on the evening of the tragedy, with members of the community turning out in support of her family.

At the same time, Louise said she feels more needs to be done to prevent further tragedies.

“I don’t feel like there’s enough action that’s been taken at all,” she said.

“As her mother, I just feel like her country, the systems that should be in place, have let her down as somebody that hasn’t done anything wrong.”

Louise said her daughter had been crossing the road safely when the incident occurred.

“There were so many people that witnessed what happened, and they all said the same thing ..she didn’t do anything wrong,” she said.

“She crossed when it was her time to do that.”

She has called for practical safety measures to be introduced, particularly on busy roads.

“There needs to be something there to physically slow cars down,” she said.

“You can’t just expect people to look at signs and abide by them — not everybody will.”

She suggested measures such as ramps, chicanes or other traffic-calming systems, saying similar infrastructure is in place in other areas but lacking on the Slane Road.

“It’s such a busy road. There definitely needs to be more in place,” she said.

Louise also raised concerns about road safety enforcement, pointing to what she sees as a reduced Garda presence.

“The numbers have continued to drop — it’s shocking, because look where we’re at now,” she said.

“She wasn’t the only one, there have been so many road deaths since the new year, the numbers are staggering.”

She also spoke movingly about the reality of her loss, describing how she is struggling to come to terms with having her daughter’s ashes at home.

“I don’t know what to do,” she said.

“I can’t believe that’s what my child has been reduced to.”

Louise described Mia Lily as “such a good person” and “my friend as well as my daughter”.

“She was so funny and she really cheered us all up,” she said.

“She was such an important person in all of our lives.”

Mia Lily, one of five children, was a caring and creative teenager who loved art.

“She was always creating something,” her mother said.

“She loved making things jewellery, working with clay — her paintings were just phenomenal.”

She also spoke of her daughter’s empathy and sensitivity.

“She just felt so much,” she said.

“She had tons of empathy, she was just a fabulous person.”

The grieving mum said the loss has been devastating for the entire family.

“I don’t know how, as a family, we’ll ever get through not having her here,” she said.

“It’s incredibly difficult.”

She said the days since Mia Lily’s death have been marked by shock and grief.

“We’re not really coping, to be honest,” she said.

“It gets worse as time goes on.”

Louise said she hopes speaking out will highlight the need for greater awareness and responsibility on the roads.

“You can try all you want to protect your child, but there’s always going to be somebody that just doesn’t care,” she said.

She urged drivers to recognise the responsibility that comes with being behind the wheel.

“People need to understand that a car is a deadly weapon and you are holding people’s lives in your hands,” she said.

“It only takes a second for everything to change.”

To mark one month since Mia Lily’s passing, her family and close friends will gather in the Phoenix Park this weekend to remember her.

Louise said the park held special meaning for Mia Lily, who loved visiting for summer picnics with her family.