Achill Island visitor tragically died in a place he loved, inquest told

AN 87-year-old US citizen with strong Achill connections and a 'passion for sailing and the sea' died on a visit to the place of his ancestry when a quad bike he had borrowed veered from a narrow road into a drain, pinning him beneath, an inquest has been told.

Michael J. Gallagher, Sausalito, California, died at the scene from multiple injuries when the Yamaha quad machine left the narrow approach road leading to Purteen Harbour, Achill, on Sunday, June 30, last year.

Mr. Gallagher was a regular visitor to Achill, according to his close friend, Achill-based Michael O’Callaghan.

Mr. O’Callaghan was one of a number of witnesses who gave evidence at an inquest which was conducted into his friend’s death at Ballina Courthouse by the Coroner for the District of Mayo, Dr. Eleanor Fitzgerald.

The deceased was staying in Mr. O’Callaghan’s house on the weekend he died.

“On the morning of June 30 I made breakfast for him,” Mr. O’Callaghan explained. “He was in good spirits, as fit as a fiddle. He was healthier than me.”

Continuing, Mr. O’Callaghan said Mr. Gallagher had taken a Yamaha quad bike from his garage to travel to Purteen Harbour and they made arrangements to meet later.

Some time later, when the alarm was raised, Mr. O’Callaghan travelled to the accident scene and tried to lift the quad bike off his friend but was unable to do so and shouted for help.

After Mr. Gallagher had been taken from the drain onto an embankment CPR was unsuccessfully attempted.

“Michael held my hand, he appeared in pain,” his friend testified. “I told him help was on the way. I could see he was fading.”

In the course of a statement to gardaí which was read to the inquest by Sergeant Sean McHale, courts presenter, An Garda Síochána, Mr. O’Callaghan described the link road where the tragedy occurred as “a bit of a disaster, going away at the edges and narrow”.

Elaborating on Mr. Gallagher’s life and his friendship with him, Mr. O’Callaghan said he had been friends with his late brother, Alan, and had been very kind to all the exiled Irish in San Francisco.

“Michael was a big help to me when my brother, Alan, died. He would come and go to Achill often. I couldn’t believe this happened.”

Achill GP Dr. Bernadette O’Leary pronounced Mr. Gallagher dead at the scene.

A number of gardaí, including Sergeant Gabriel McLoughlin, PSV inspector for Mayo, were involved in the investigation into the accident.

The quad bike involved was a Yamaha 350, normally used for transporting turf and kept in a shed at the O’Callaghan household.

In his report, Sergeant McLoughlin outlined that the quad had been extensively damaged. The brakes, steering lock and tyres were serviceable on the vehicle.

However, Sergeant McLoughlin noted: “This all-terrain vehicle is an off-road vehicle.”

Evidence was given that the speed limit on the route was 80 kmph on a local road with an undulating surface with no road verges.

After hearing medical evidence from pathologist Dr. Fadel Bennani that Mr. Gallagher died from multiple injuries, including laceration of the left femoral artery, Coroner Fitzgerald returned a verdict of accidental death.

The coroner questioned whether a speed limit of 80 kmph was appropriate for such a narrow road on which other accidents could occur.

Of Mr. Gallagher, she stated: “He died (in a place) which he loved and obviously had a good life which unfortunately ended in such a manner.”

The coroner paid tribute to Dr. O’Leary and all of the first responders and gardaí who attended at the scene and rendered assistance.

Sergeant McHale, on behalf of An Garda Síochána, joined the coroner in expressing sympathy to the family and relatives.

(Funded under the Courts Reporting Scheme).