Inquest into Mayo N5 fatality in 2022 is completed

“Doing a U-turn on a main road is fraught with danger”

A motorist performed a U-turn on the N5 near Swinford which resulted in serious injuries to her husband which subsequently proved fatal, an inquest has been told.

Michael Donnellan (74), a father of six, who lived at Barnadearg, Tuam. Co. Galway, was a back seat passenger in a car driven by his wife which was involved in a collision with a Scania articulated lorry at Cloonlara, Swinford, in the early hours of February 9, 2022.

Mr. Donnellan died five days later at Mayo University Hospital.

His wife, Kathleen, the driver, was injured in the impact as was his daughter, Michelle, a front seat passenger.

An inquest some years ago into Mr. Donnellan’s death was opened and adjourned by the former Coroner for the District of Mayo, Pat O’Connor.

Evidence was given at a resumed inquest in Ballina conducted by the Coroner for the District of Mayo, Dr. Eleanor Fitzgerald, that prior to the collision the Donnellans had attended a social dancing event at the Brusna Inn, near Ballaghaderreen.

On the way home, after missing the N17 turnoff near Charlestown, Mrs. Donnellan pulled into the hard shoulder at Cloonlara before performing a U-turn into the path of an oncoming lorry which was travelling to Ballina to collect product from the local Coca Cola plant.

At the outset of the inquest hearing, Sergeant Noel Crinnegan, Garda Courts Presenter, outlined that an extensive garda investigation had been conducted into the circumstances and the DPP had decided there should be no prosecution of either driver.

The truck driver, Enda McAuley, with an address in Donegal Town, did not attend the inquest but provided a statement to gardai which was read into evidence by Sergeant Crinnegan.

In his statement, Mr. McAuley outlined that around 12.20 a. m. he saw a car parked on the left hand side partly protruding onto the main roadway.

“I slowed down”, the witness deposed. “Suddenly the car turned right into my path. I did not have time to react. The front of the truck collided with the offside rear of the car. I could not avoid a collision."

John Corcoran, an off duty advanced paramedic living in Castlebar, was one of the first on the scene.

He raised the alarm before attending to Mr. Donnellan and the other accident victims.

In a statement to gardai he said it appeared the occupants of the car did not know the area and had gotten lost.

Sergeant Gabriel McLoughlin, PSV Inspector for Mayo, examined both crash vehicles and came to the conclusion both were roadworthy prior to the collision.

Prior to his death, Mr. Donnellan spent five days in hospital without regaining consciousness.

The medical cause of his death, as outlined by pathologist Dr. Fadel Bennani, was multiple extensive brain injury and hemorrhage.

Noting that both Kathleen and Michelle Donnellan had suffered injuries the coroner said there could have been three fatalities.

Returning a verdict of accidental death, the coroner commented that the decision to turn the car on the road proved to be fatal.

“Doing a U-turn on a main road is fraught with danger," she added.

* Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.