Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 3710Careless driving causing death · Co. Wexford · 27 Jan 2024

Man jailed six months for careless driving causing death in Wexford

On 27 January 2024, Yurii Dudek, a 31-year-old Ukrainian man, was driving a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van on the N25 road between Wexford and Rosslare when it rear-ended a vehicle that had stopped to turn right, pushing it into oncoming traffic and striking the car carrying Saoirse Aylward, 31, and her partner Nathan Ferguson-Murphy. Aylward, who was 31 weeks pregnant, had an emergency Caesarean section at Wexford General Hospital and her son Jax was stillborn. Dudek, who was in Ireland collecting humanitarian aid for Ukraine, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court. On 27 February 2026, Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced him to six months in prison, reduced from a nine-month headline sentence, and Aylward called for legislative reform to recognise stillborn babies as victims in road traffic collisions.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court26 Feb
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced1 Feb
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van driven by Yurii Dudek rear-ended a vehicle that had stopped to turn right, pushing it into oncoming traffic and striking the car carrying Saoirse Aylward and Nathan Ferguson-Murphy.
Where
The collision occurred on the N25 road between Wexford and Rosslare at Ballygillane Big in the townland of Drinagh.
When
The collision happened on 27 January 2024.
Cause
The State's case was that the van was overloaded and exceeded the manufacturer's load limit, and that Dudek may have been using his mobile phone, though the State could not prove this beyond a reasonable doubt.
Charges
Dudek was charged with dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Saoirse Aylward.
In court
Dudek pleaded guilty at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court, and Aylward and Ferguson-Murphy gave victim impact statements.
Sentence
Judge Cormac Quinn set a headline sentence of nine months, reduced to six months in prison after mitigating factors, with a maximum of two years.
Other details
  • Aylward was 31 weeks pregnant and had an emergency Caesarean section at Wexford General Hospital, and her son Jax was stillborn.
  • Dudek was in Ireland collecting medical supplies and humanitarian aid for Ukraine at the time of the collision.
  • Mitigating factors included Dudek's age, guilty plea, no previous convictions in Ireland or Ukraine, genuine remorse, and voluntary humanitarian work.
  • Aylward launched a campaign for legislative reform to recognise stillborn babies as victims in road traffic collisions.
  • All parties involved passed a roadside breath test.
39 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van driven by Mr Dudek rear-ended a vehicle that had stopped to turn right. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe rear-ended vehicle was pushed into oncoming traffic and hit the car carrying Ms Aylward and her partner. (rte.ie)
  • whatDudek was driving a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe rear-ended vehicle was pushed into oncoming traffic, hitting the car in which Saoirse Aylward and Nathan Ferguson-Murphy were travelling (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSaoirse Aylward was 31 weeks pregnant at the time of the collision (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSaoirse Aylward had an emergency Caesarean section at Wexford General Hospital (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe collision happened at Ballygillane Big on the main Wexford/Rosslare Road. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe collision occurred on the main Rosslare to Wexford Road in the townland of Drinagh. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe collision happened on the N25 road between Wexford and Rosslare on 27 January 2024 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident happened on 27 January 2024. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe collision happened on 27 January 2024. (rte.ie)
  • causeThe Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van driven by the accused rear-ended a vehicle that had stopped to make a right turn. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeThe rear-ended vehicle was pushed into oncoming traffic and hit a car carrying Saoirse Aylward and her partner. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe State could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr Dudek was using his mobile phone at the time, although apps on his phone had been open. (rte.ie)
  • chargeMr Dudek was charged with dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Ms Aylward. (rte.ie)
  • courtDudek pleaded guilty at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtMr Dudek previously pleaded guilty to causing the three-vehicle collision. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Wexford Circuit Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtMs Aylward and Mr Fergeson Murphy gave victim impact statements in court. (rte.ie)
  • courtHe was sentenced by Judge Cormac Quinn at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court on Friday (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe maximum sentence was two years. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Quinn set a headline sentence of nine months and sentenced Dudek to six months in prison. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceDudek's driving licence was not suspended because he uses it for volunteering work in aid of Ukraine. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Quinn adjourned sentencing to the next morning. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceYurii Dudek was sentenced to six months in prison (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe maximum sentence for the offence was two years (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of nine months, reduced to six months after mitigating factors (irishtimes.com)
  • otherSaoirse Aylward was 31 weeks pregnant and needed an emergency C-section at Wexford General Hospital. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHer son Jax was stillborn. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused was in Ireland collecting medical supplies and humanitarian aid for Ukraine at the time. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherMitigating factors included Dudek's age, his guilty plea and that he had no previous convictions in Ireland or Ukraine. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherSaoirse Aylward has launched a campaign for legislative reform over a gap in the law following the loss of her unborn baby. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherMs Aylward was 31 weeks pregnant and had an emergency C-section at Wexford General Hospital. (rte.ie)
  • otherMs Aylward was told her son Jax was stillborn. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe State's case is that the van was overloaded and exceeded the manufacturer's load limit. (rte.ie)
  • otherAll parties involved passed a roadside breath test. (rte.ie)
  • otherMr Dudek was in Ireland collecting medical supplies and humanitarian aid for Ukraine at the time. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe defence cited genuine remorse, voluntary humanitarian work and the guilty plea as mitigating factors. (rte.ie)
  • otherDudek was in Ireland to collect medical supplies and humanitarian aid for the Ukrainian army (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Feb2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man (31) sentenced to six months for causing death of unborn baby in Co Wexford road crash

    Reports the sentencing of Yurii Dudek to six months in prison (reduced from a nine-month headline sentence) for careless driving that caused the death of an unborn baby. Includes victim-impact statement from Saoirse Aylward and her campaign for 'Jax's Law' to recognise stillborn babies in fatal road collisions within the justice system.

    convicted, Yurii Dudek, 31, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishYurii Dudekvictim, Saoirse Aylward, female, irish (judged from name)Saoirse Aylwardvictim, Jax, maleJaxvictim, Nathan Ferguson-Murphy, male, irish (judged from name)Nathan Ferguson-Murphy
  2. 26 Feb2026
    In courtrte.ie, first report
    Woman calling for reform after stillbirth following crash

    Reports the sentencing hearing, the victim impact statements from Ms Aylward and her partner, the defence mitigation, and the adjournment of sentencing.

    accused, Yurii Dudek, 31, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Yurii Dudekvictim, Saoirse Aylward, female, irish (judged from name)Saoirse Aylwardvictim, Nathan Fergeson Murphy, male, irish (judged from name)Nathan Fergeson Murphy
  3. 1 Feb2026
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Mother calls for new law as man whose careless driving led to her unborn baby's death is jailed

    Reports the sentencing of Yurii Dudek at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court, the court's findings on mitigation, and Saoirse Aylward's campaign for Jax's Law.

    convicted, Yurii Dudek, 31, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishYurii Dudekvictim, Saoirse Aylward, 31, female, irish (judged from name)Saoirse Aylwardvictim, JaxJax