A mother who was recently struck while walking her seven-week-old baby in a pram in Cork has spoken for the first time — revealing she is now too terrified to leave her house.
Junia Van Belle shared her account just days after a weekend of carnage on Irish roads claimed seven lives. Amongst those was 16-year-old Mia Lily Keogh O’Keeffe, who lost her life in a hit-and-run. Mia’s tragedy left Junia in tears during an emotional interview with this reporter.
Throughout the exclusive conversation, Junia, whose nickname is Gigi, delivered a powerful message to motorists in Ireland, while disclosing she feared losing her baby after throwing herself in front of an approaching car to save his life.
Horror collision
Gigi, originally from Belgium, has been in Ireland for 11 years. She resides in Blarney, Cork, with her partner, Michael Maurin, and their little baby, Matthew.
She now relies on crutches and it will take a long time before she is fully recovered (Image: Junia Van Belle)
On October 21, 2025, she was embarking on what was meant to be a peaceful postpartum stroll to the post office in Blarney.
“I was walking with the baby on the footpath when suddenly I heard the tyre noise and that scared me,” the 34-year-old, who was on St Ann’s Road, told The Irish Mirror. “So I turned my head, and that’s when I saw the car running towards me.
“It was really a primal instinct. I thought the car would kill my baby so instead of my baby taking the hit, I took it, I tried the maximum impact, but the car still touched the buggy.
“The baby seat got ejected but luckily it landed on the edge of the path. For me, I got ejected into the bushes. I could hear my baby screaming — but I could not see him.”
Her leg was shattered in the crash (Image: Junia Van Belle)
Gigi described experiencing excruciating pain in her right leg, which had been fractured—yet she found herself continuously calling out Mathew’s name.
She dreaded the worst until a nurse who had stopped at the scene shouted across that the little boy was responding.
Emergency services arrived to free Gigi, who was then transported to Cork University Hospital alongside her child.
Given the force of the collision, mother and son were separated upon arrival, with Gigi taken to the trauma ward for surgery while Matthew was brought to the emergency children’s ward.
Gigi underwent an operation the day after, having learnt her leg was fractured. She also had two screws inserted into her ankle, two screws placed into her kneecap and a metal plate positioned between the tibia and fibula.
Her little boy is now back smiling after the crash (Image: Junia Van Belle)
The remainder of her body was covered in cuts and bruises, and while her rehabilitation would be lengthy and challenging, her primary worry was for Matthew, after preliminary scans revealed he had “minor brain damage”.
For weeks, Gigi worried his development might be affected, but a neurosurgeon ultimately determined that the condition would heal naturally.
Gigi and Matthew were kept apart for nine distressing days before finally being discharged home—but returning to normality proved impossible.
PTSD
The mother, who was confined to a wheelchair and now depends on crutches, is battling PTSD and requires professional assistance to help her manage the trauma she experienced.
Offering a glimpse into her struggles, she explained her life would never return to normal. She told us: “Even during the day, I don’t feel safe. Sometimes I am in the living room and I am thinking there is going to be a car that jumps through the living room and hits us.
It has been a traumatic time for the young family (Image: Junia Van Belle)
“I have a lot of nightmares where I feel chased and I need to look after my baby and make sure he is safe. I feel trapped.”
Gigi had relatives, including her mother and sister, travel from overseas to provide support. However, one outing to Kinsale resulted in the mother screaming in the vehicle when she mistakenly believed her partner might crash into someone while parking.
Following that incident, she has been too frightened to venture outside.
Looking back on it, she explained: “That was the first time when I went out and then I decided not to leave. I haven’t left the house since the accident, despite going to hospital for appointments, that is the only time I go out.”
Hit-and-run
Gigi chose to share her story after learning the devastating news about Mia Lily Keogh O’ Keeffe being killed in a hit-and-run in Navan, County Meath, last weekend.
Mia Lily Keogh O’Keeffe was just 16(Image: GoFundMe)
The teenager is believed to have been struck while crossing the road. Gardai suspect the driver ran a red light before hitting the girl and then fleeing the scene.
A man in his 20s was arrested but was subsequently released without charge. Speaking about the tragedy, Gigi remarked: “What happened to that young girl is truly heartbreaking. It brought back a lot of emotions for me, because we could also have lost our lives. This has been a deeply traumatic experience for both me and my little boy.
“I was really shocked. It really is heartbreaking for me because there are a lot of emotions coming…”
Gigi then became overcome with emotion before continuing: “Sorry… she was just a young girl, only 16, it is just awful.”
Mia was among seven individuals who tragically lost their lives during what proved to be a devastating weekend of road collisions throughout Ireland.
Message to motorists
While the collision involving Gigi remains under active investigation, the mum issued a general appeal to fellow motorists across Ireland.
They are trying to stay positive and have set up a GoFundMe page (Image: Junia Van Belle)
Through tears, she stated: “When you take to the roads, you need to realise your responsibility.
“We feel less impacted until it happens to us. You can take the life of someone, and you can also take the loss of a professional activity, independence, joy of moving freely, and being free in the mind, as well as the family.
“It is a family that you can break. And you can really steal the peace and the joy of a family, so just be aware.
“How many people need to be impacted, and how many lives need to be taken, to have change?”
GoFundMe
The young mum has sustained multiple fractures and cannot walk or work while simultaneously attempting to care for her infant, who is her first child. Following her discharge from hospital, she was confined to bed rest, yet still found herself responsible for caring for her young child.
It was a terrifying time after learning their son may have brain damage (Image: Junia Van Belle)
She explained she had little option but to arrange private support, which she said has placed tremendous strain on top of the trauma she’s experienced.
Regarding reaching out for assistance, she told us: “I set up the GoFundMe because at the beginning I was vulnerable to do it.
“It took me a long time to put it online because I felt ashamed for asking for help and creating awareness about what happened to me. But then I realised there were a lot of people who were praying for us and asking for news.
“I finally feel ready to share a picture of my baby. I was really protective about my name and my baby showing, now I think I need to change my mindset, and that I don’t need to feel guilty about what happened to me.”
She explained contributions would go towards physical rehabilitation, psychological recovery, vital home care while she regains mobility, and the capacity to safely look after her baby.
Gardai
A Garda spokesperson confirmed the investigation into the collision involving Gigi remained active and that enquiries were continuing.
They referred back to an earlier statement which read: “Gardai are appealing for witnesses — including those travelling in the area at the time who may have dashcam / video recordings.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Gurranabraher Garda Station on (021) 494 6200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”
You can make a donation on Gigi’s fundraising page here