Tragic road death of Mayo Leaving Cert. student recalled at inquest

An 18-year-old Leaving Certificate student was killed instantly when his motorcycle left the road and hit a crash barrier on the old Westport to Castlebar road at Cloonkeen, Castlebar, last year, an inquest has been told.

Kacper Swierkowski, 43 Knockaphunta Park, Castlebar, formerly of Jedrzejow, Poland, died after losing control of the Honda CDR 500 vehicle on the evening of March 13, 2024, while driving from Westport in the direction of Castlebar.

Dr. Eleanor Fitzgerald, Coroner for the District of Mayo, conducted an inquest in Ballina into the tragic death of the youngster who at the time of his passing was a student at Davitt College, Castlebar.

The cause of death was given by consultant pathologist Dr. Fadel Bennani as severe brain and spinal cord injuries sustained in a road traffic accident.

Sergeant Gabriel McLoughlin, PSV Inspector, in a statement which was read to the inquest by Sergeant Noel Crinnegan, said the vehicle had been roadworthy and there were no defects which could have contributed to the collision.

The inquest heard that the bike veered across the road at a bend into a chevron crash barrier and the victim was hurled over the barrier, sustaining injuries which caused instantaneous death.

Evidence from gardaí, first responders and motorists who helped at the crash scene was heard at Thursday’s inquest.

One of the first on the scene, Maria Moran, an ENT at Westport Order of Malta, helped administer first aid.

“I am so sorry for the family. I did everything I possibly could for this man," Ms. Moran outlined in a statement to gardaí which was read on her behalf by Sergeant Crinnegan.

Responding to questions from the coroner, Ms. Moran agreed the scene was “quite horrific."

A further witness, Cathy O’Malley, who is attached to Castlebar Primary Care Centre, said she came on the accident while travelling home from work and kept talking to the victim saying “keep with it, the ambulance is coming."

In a statement which was read to the inquest on his behalf, Robert Swierkowski, father of the victim, said that on the afternoon of the accident he had collected his sons, Kacper and Patryk, from their schools, Davitt College and St. Gerald’s College.

Mr. Swierkowski said after they got home Kacper put on his motorcycle gear and drove in the Westport direction.

He explained that about an hour later he got a phone call from his other son, Patryk, who told him gardaí were at the house and there had been an accident.

Mr. Swierkowski said that on the following day he accompanied his wife, Jolanta, to Mayo University Hospital where they identified their son’s remains.

Sergeant John Horkan, forensic collision investigator with An Garda Síochána, gave evidence that the Honda was negotiating a bend when it left the road and impacted with a crash barrier.

Sergeant Horkan described the 500 CC bike as “powerful”, capable of doing 200 kmph.

He said it was difficult to estimate the speed of the bike at the time of the impact and explained the accident could be due to lack of driver experience.

”It could be a number of issues,” he noted.

Returning a verdict of accidental death, Coroner Fitzgerald noted that Kacper had been keen to own his bike and replaced a smaller bike with a more powerful one.

Referring to the high number of motorbike accidents each year resulting in fatalities and serious injuries she noted that motorbikes afford less protection than other road vehicles.

The coroner commented the victim, just 18, might not have been aware of the dangers involved.

She went on to speak of the “goodness and kindness” of the first responders and others who attempted to revive the young student but whose injuries were so serious that nothing could be done.

Returning a verdict of accidental death the coroner expressed sympathy with Jacper’s parents Robert and Jolanta and brother Patryk.

She said it was tragic for Kacper to end his life in such an awful way.

Sergeant Noel Crinnegan, Courts Presenter, joined in the expressions of sympathy.

* Published under the Courts Reporting Scheme.