Dad’s tearful plea after son killed by alleged teenage ‘joy-riders’

The devastated father of a motorbike rider allegedly hit and killed by a 14-year-old boy on bail who was driving a stolen vehicle, has tearfully begged the state’s law enforcers to “do more to save lives”.

The devastated father of a motorbike rider hit killed by a stolen vehicle allegedly being driven by a 14-year-old boy on bail, has tearfully begged the state’s law enforcers to “do more to save lives”.

Daniel McNamara, 52, an engineer for Whitehaven Coal, was riding to Tamworth to collect a part for his bike, on Tuesday morning, when he was struck by the speeding utility which was being chased by police, on the outskirts of Gunnedah.

Police had been pursuing the Isuzu D-max ute which was reported stolen from Moree earlier that morning, when it slammed into Mr McNamara as he pulled out of a petrol station, just before 8am.

Through tears, Daniel’s father Patrick McNamara told The Daily Telegraph he held no anger over the crash, just sadness that it happened.

Lindy and Patrick McNamara, whose son Daniel was killed in a crash near Gunnedah on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied

He bravely issued a plea to the courts to do more so that no other lives are “wasted”.

“I’m upset at the young people (allegedly) in that ute, and their parents. What were the parents doing when their kids were out?” Mr McNamara said.

“And I’m upset at the judges and the magistrates, because what they’re doing when they let these young people back out on the streets on bail, it’s not working. They need to put these young offenders somewhere else, somewhere that can give them help and rehabilitation.”

Motorbike rider Daniel McNamara, 46, who was allegedly hit and killed by three teens in a stolen Ute near Gunnedah on Tuesday.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Andy Holland said the three teens in the ute were all “very well known to police”.

The alleged driver of the stolen vehicle was already on bail for previous driving and break and enter offences.

“Something has to change, see. I’m not saying jail, but I hope the judges and magistrates can see that bail for these kinds of young people is not the answer, and it’s cost my Dan his life,” Mr McNamara said.

Less than an hour before the fatal crash, Daniel’s brother Adam sent him a text message: “Safe riding bruv”.

The the final messages the motorbike rider sent to his brothers that morning.

The fatal scene near Gunnedah. Picture: 7News

The bike enthusiast, who was working on the underground mine expansion in Narrabri, had waited two months for a part to arrive for his Suzuki Hayabusa, and was on his way to collect it on a day off, when he was killed.

“Our family will never be the same. Taken from us in a tragic chain of events. None of it your fault,” his brother Adam said.

The alleged teenage driver and two 14-year-old passengers faced Tamworth Local Court on Wednesday where each was charged with a string of offences.

The teen who police allege was driving had his bail revoked, while the other two were remanded in custody.

NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley has ordered an urgent review of all previous court matters involving the three youths.

Originally published as Dad’s tearful plea after son killed by alleged teenage ‘joy-riders’