File sent to DPP over fatal Mayo N5 traffic accident

by Tom Shiel

A file on the garda investigation into the death of a 91-year-old man in a road traffic accident on the N5 outside Castlebar last December has been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), an inquest has been told.

The hearing at Ballina Courthouse into the death of Alfred Barry Trueman, Carrowmore Meadows, Knock, was opened and adjourned by the Coroner for the District of Mayo, Dr. Eleanor Fitzgerald.

Mr. Trueman, a former teacher at St. Patrick’s Academy, Islandeady, Castlebar, was the driver of a car which was involved in a collision with a truck on the evening of December 29.

He was transferred to the intensive care unit of Mayo University Hospital where he died on January 9.

The cause of death was explained to the brief inquest hearing by Dr. Tamas Nemeth, who carried out a post-mortem, as “trauma caused by the injuries received in the road traffic accident."

Inspector Denis Harrington said a full garda investigation had been carried out (into the collision) and a file had been submitted to the DPP for directions.

The Inspector said he expected a decision from the DPP in maybe a month or two months time.

Coroner Fitzgerald adjourned the substantive inquest hearing until all investigation proceedings have been completed.