‘The grief is constant’: Family reveal lasting trauma after Laura Connolly death

The family of Lifford woman Laura Connolly have revealed they visit her grave countless times each day as they simply still cannot accept that she has gone.

Letterkenny Circuit Court fell silent on Thursday as the horrific impact of her death in a hit-and-run in Lifford in July, 2021 resonated through the courtroom.

Five victim impact statements from the people closest to the 34-year-old deceased woman were read out as each word echoed across the silent wooden benches of the court.

Each statement recalled happier times with the once bubbly woman who was killed just hours after going wedding dress shopping.

Sean Connaughton, who was disqualified from driving, fled the scene of the incident on the N15 at Townspark, Lifford, and will be sentenced next week by Judge John Aylmer. 

Laura's heartbroken mother, Rosemary, bravely took to the witness stand to tell the world about her daughter and how her own world "had ended with her."

Mrs Connolly said no words can truly capture the depth of pain, heartache and loss of her family as a result of Laura's death.

She said: "When my daughter was killed in this hit-and-run, my entire world ended with her.

"To be told this devastating news by my son that my daughter had been killed in a hit and run, my life has been torn apart since that night hearing this heartbreaking news and no words can describe how I felt after having such a wonderful day with Laura to try and find that perfect wedding dress.

"We took lots of photos that day and the smile that Laura had will never leave me, she was so happy to be marrying her childhood sweetheart and her best friend, all I have left of Laura are photographs in the home and I will never see her walk down the aisle nor in her wedding dress other than the photo that I took that day when Laura had been trying on her dream wedding dress.

"I still have flashbacks of that call and the numbness I felt that night. I have to pass the scene of where the accident happened everyday which causes me a lot of stress and anxiety. I visit my daughter's grave six to seven times a day to try and get some comfort and peace."

Rosemary revealed Laura was her first-born and that they always had a special bond adding that her late daughter was her best friend.

She said: "I stand everyday looking out the door and window waiting for Laura to appear, she was my soul mate and I am lost without her. She was my heart, my purpose, and my greatest joy. From the moment she was born, my life revolved around loving her, protecting her, and watching her grow."

Rosemary had only been speaking to Laura at 10.30pm on the night before and once again it was wedding plans which were being discussed.

The heartbroken mother said: "I was the one that was left to cancel all of the bookings on behalf of my daughter Laura had made to prepare for that special day as “I am now Laura’s voice to be heard” Laura was a brilliant mother to her son and was full of life she was very caring, outgoing and bubbly. She had a smile that could light up a room and a heart that cared so deeply for others."

Rosemary said no words can describe the pain of losing a child, especially "in such a sudden, violent, and senseless way."

She said :”My daughter did not get the chance to say goodbye, and I did not get the chance to save her. What makes this loss even harder to bear is knowing that the person who killed my only daughter chose to flee instead of helping her. The cruelty of leaving a human being to die on the roadside is something I will never fully understand.

"The driver involved in the hit-and-run did not take full responsibility until four and a half years later for their actions nor did they offer an apology and if this had been done sooner it might have helped us as a family to understand what happened that night and get some closure."

A statement was read out on behalf of Jimmy Connolly, the father of Laura and Rosemary's husband.

He said: “Witnessing what I saw that night will stay with me for the rest of my life. The impact that this has had on my life since Laura’s death has left me with a broken heart that will never repair.

"I was a very proud father when Laura had announced that she was getting married and that I would have the honour of walking my only daughter down the aisle, which I am never going to have this opportunity to do. I was so excited as Laura had talked about trying for another child after her wedding."

Mr Connolly described his daughter as kind, generous, and so full of life.

He added: "She was a mother to her son in which she will never see grow up, she will never see her grandchildren. She had a smile that could light up a room and I truly miss that; she had a heart that cared deeply for others.

"Laura did everything for me and I depended so much on her. Every day I am waiting for Laura to walk through the door. She had dreams for her future, plans she was working towards, and a life that mattered. All of that was stolen in a moment."

He said that it was he who had to break the news of his daughter's death to his wife.

He “added: “No words can describe how my wife and I felt that night knowing that we would never see Laura again.

“Since her death, our family has been permanently changed. Every day begins and ends with her absence. Simple moments - holidays, birthdays, family gatherings - are now filled with silence and grief. I wake up each morning knowing I can no longer protect her, guide her, or hear her voice. That is a burden I will carry for the rest of my life.

"My daughter deserved to live. She deserved to grow older, to chase her dreams, and to come home safely. I will spend the rest of my life honouring her and grieving the future that was taken from her."

Laura's only son Jamie was just 16 when his mother was killed in the tragedy.

In his touching victim impact statement, Jamie said that as an only child he had no siblings to comfort him for the loss of his mammy.

He said: "I spent so much quality time with mammy and she would have always been there for me.

"My world ended the moment my daddy told me that my mammy was killed in a hit and run and the reality that I would never see her smile, hear her voice or say goodbye again hit me hard.

"I had been along with my mammy the night of the accident and went home earlier that night, which now sticks with me for the rest of my life as if I had stayed along with her that night and not decided to go on home would she still be here today, this I will never know."

Describing his mother as the "centre of my world', Jamie said that since the day she was taken from him, his life has been completely shattered.

"I really struggle to talk about my mammy as this breaks my heart, so I try to avoid these situations. Mammy had promised to buy my first car when I turned 18 years old, this was taken from me too."

Jamie said he feels "robbed" of a future with his mother.

He added: “She will never see the person I become, never celebrate my milestones, never give me advice or comfort again. That loss is permanent, and it’s something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

"Our family has been torn apart by this tragedy. There is a constant emptiness in our home. My mammy mattered. Her life mattered. And the way she died has left a lasting impact on me."

Laura's brother James said that losing his only sister and sibling has been the most devastating experience of his life.

He recalled: "She had plans, hopes, and people who loved her deeply. Laura had been out shopping for her wedding dress earlier that day with my mother as she was so excited for this. She should be alive today. Instead, her life was taken suddenly and senselessly.

"My sister was not just a victim in a case file - she was a real person with a life, dreams, and a future that was stolen from her. She was someone I grew up with, laughed with, and leaned on. She was my family, my constant, and my friend. As her only brother, I shared a bond with her that cannot be replaced. There will never be another sister for me."

Laura's childhood sweetheart and partner Joseph McCullagh said Laura was part of his life during the years that shaped who he is.

He said the manner of her death has caused him deep and lasting pain.

"The fact that the person responsible chose to flee instead of stopping to help Laura has added an extra layer of trauma that is difficult to put into words. It leaves unanswered questions, anger, and a sense that Laura was denied dignity in her final moments,” he said.

“Her loss has left a permanent and devastating void in our family. Laura was taken from us suddenly and violently. One moment she was here—loving, present, and planning for our future and wedding in which she had been organising all the wedding plans and the next she was gone."

He also revealed that the couple had planned to try to grow their family after they wed.

He said: "We had also talked about trying for another child after the wedding, which will never happen. On the night of this tragedy before Laura left to celebrate her cousin’s 40th birthday her words to me were ‘I love you and will see you when I get home’. Laura never returned.

"For me, the loss is overwhelming. I lost my partner, my best friend, and the person I shared my life with. Every day I live with the absence of her voice, her laughter, and the comfort of knowing she was by my side and always there for me, I sorely miss her smile, voice and presence.

"The grief is constant. It affects my sleep, my ability to work, and my sense of safety in the world. I am always waiting for Laura to walk through the door and be at the other end of the phone and the reality of this is that it’s never going to happen."

He also said that their son will now no longer have his mother to help guide him through his life.

"I now carry the responsibility of raising our son alone while also carrying my own grief. I must be strong when my heart is broken. I must explain a loss that should never have happened. This is a burden I will carry for the rest of my life.

"Every part of daily life is affected by her absence - decisions, routines, and moments that once brought joy are now reminders of what has been taken from us.

"Nothing can bring her back, but accountability matters. Justice matters - for her, and for the child who will grow up without his mother."