Country and western singer Robert Mizzell was the first person to come upon a fatal motorycle accident between Claremorris and Ballyhaunis in the early hours of May 25 last in which a 30-year-old woman lost her life. Mr. Mizzell gave evidence yesterday (Monday) at an inquest in Castlebar into the death of Sharon O'Dowd from Old Racecourse, Knock Road, Ballyhaunis.
Ms. O'Dowd was a pillion passenger on a motorcycle driven by Roy Folliard from Cartron South, Ballyhaunis, which went out of control in the townland of Cloonthumper, Ballyhaunis.
The inquest into Ms. O'Dowd's death was conducted by the Coroner for south Mayo, Mr. John O'Dwyer.

Mr. Mizzell told the hearing he had been travelling home to Co. Westmeath from a performance at the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris, when he came upon the accident.
Mr. Mizzell told of coming upon a motorbike, with its light on, which was stationary on the road
"I stopped my car just before the bike and got out," witness continued. "The bike was on its side and I saw a male just getting off the bike and getting up off the road. I ran over to him and noticed he had his helmet on. I asked him was he hurt and he said he was okay. I asked was there anyone with him and he didn't answer but he looked behind him and started walking back."
Mr. Mizzell then ran back to his car and raised the alarm by ringing 999.

Afterwards, when he returned to the bike driver, witness noticed a woman lying on the grass verge with her head on the road. The man took off his helmet at this stage and left it beside the girl. The man bent down and kept calling her name, 'Sharon'. Witness asked the driver if it was his girlfriend and he replied 'No', his 'best friend'."
Nigel McHugh, a barman, who lives at Arm, Castlerea, gave evidence of giving CPR to the injured woman "but there was no bringing her back."
Garda Liam Hynes said Ms. O'Dowd was pronounced dead at the scene by Dr. Robert Marsh from WestDoc at 2.41 a.m.
Garda Nicola Coleman gave evidence of interviewing Roy Folliard after the accident and taking a blood sample from him at the A&E Department of Mayo General Hospital.

Bike hit chips

Witness said she subsequently received a certificate of analysis from the Medical Bureau of Road Safety indicating a concentration of 114 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
Both Mr. Folliard and Ms. O'Dowd had been wearing helmets at the time.
In a statement read to the inquest, Roy Folliard said he and Sharon O'Dowd had decided to go to a house party in Claremorris. Earlier, he had visited his girlfriend, Stella Keane, at Abbeyquarter, Ballyhaunis.
Witness said he droved down Abbey Street and turned down Clare Road and headed in the direction of Claremorris. He was doing between 50 and 60 miles and hour. He always drove slower when he had a passenger with him.

Witness said he remembered going down a hill approaching a right hand bend. He saw the lights of a car coming and dipped his headlights.
"The oncoming car didn't dip his headlights and all I could see was the bright lights and it blinded my vision. The back wheel of the bike hit the chips and the grass and I pulled the throttle to try and get the bike back again.
"I remember missing one post but I think the back wheel of my bike hit the second post and Sharon was thrown off.
"The bike went on its right hand side and I was still on it until the bike stopped. I got off the bike and I had my helmet on and I took it off and ran back to see if I could find Sharon. I kept calling her name.

"I know within a few minutes a man came and it may have been the lights of his car that made me find Sharon. I saw Sharon lying on the grass and her head was just barely touching the road.
"She had no helmet on when I got to her and I couldn't see it anywhere. I left my helmet beside her and I tried to talk to her and help her. I kneeled down and I put her head between my knees and two people – a woman and a man – started CPR. But I knew within a few minutes she had passed away."

After a jury had returned a verdict of accidental death, the Coroner, Mr. O'Dwyer expressed his sympathy to Lisa O'Dowd and her mother, Val, on their sad loss of a sister and daughter who was 'in the prime of life' and 'had the world ahead of her'.
Roy Folliard also spoke briefly. "I want to express my regret for what happened. It goes through me nearly every day. I wish it was me. I'm sorry."
Lisa O'Dowd also spoke. She thanked everybody who attended at the scene and said it gave the family great comfort that Sharon had been cared for in such a compassionate manner."