Remembering Dylan Donohue: Maureen Donohue pays tribute to her grandson in wake of guilty verdict

A grandmother has remembered her beloved grandson as her ‘rock’ and the happiest little boy after the man responsible for his death was found guilty by a jury.

A GRANDMOTHER has remembered her beloved grandson as her “rock” and “the happiest little boy” after the man responsible for his death was found guilty by a jury.

Dylan Donohue, 25, tragically died on July 29, 2018 when the car he was travelling in rolled on the Bruce Highway south of Alligator Creek.

The fatal crash left his grandmother, Maureen Donohue, in shock.

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A jury found Dwayne Leon Joel Mitchell guilty of one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance on Thursday in the Townsville District Court.

Ms Donohue said she would never forget the day her life changed forever.

“He gave me a kiss on the cheek and said: ‘I love you. You know the drill, if I am not home at 5am … call me,’” she said.

Dylan Donohue (left) pictured at his 21st birthday party with Terry Jnr, Uncle Bear and Pa.

“When he didn’t come home I called him 34 times and it wasn’t until midday the next day the police told me. I just screamed and screamed and screamed.”

Dylan’s grandfather Terry and Ms Donohue travelled from Mackay to attend the trial in Townsville but struggled through the proceedings waiting for the verdict.

Known to his family as ‘Dilly’, Dylan’s Uncle Bear also attended the trial.

Ms Donohue said the outcome would give the family closure.

“Dylan was my rock and I am so happy he has got justice and he didn’t die in vain,” she said.

Dylan Donohue pictured with his grandmother Maureen Donohue.

“It is going to help me move on and I am going to try and be happy because that is what Dylan would want me to do, but I will never, ever forget my boy. He will always be in my heart.”

At the time of Dylan’s death he was working as a station hand and farm hand at a Gumlu produce and cattle farm.

Ms Donohue said her grandson loved his life and working on the land.

“He was good at everything he tried and when he worked he worked 100 per cent,” she said.

“He was a boy that was never still; he always had to be doing something and he loved his rodeos, bike riding and pigging.

Dylan Donohue, 25, was killed in a high-speed crash at Alligator Creek on Sunday, July 29, 2018. Here he is pictured with his horse, Harry, his mother Sonia Hermann gave to him for his 21st birthday.

“He did so much in his short life.”

After mourning the loss of her grandson since 2018, Ms Donohue said Dylan would never be forgotten and would always be loved.

“My lounge room is a memorial to him. I have his ashes and photos of him everywhere,” she said.

“I want people to remember Dylan as the happiest little boy who was there for all of his friends and for his nana and pa, no matter what.”

Originally published as Remembering Dylan Donohue: Maureen Donohue pays tribute to her grandson in wake of guilty verdict