AN INQUEST into the death of a young woman in a Co Mayo road crash in 2004 has resumed after several delays. The father of Ashling Gallagher (22) described how his daughter’s vehicle “unexplainably swerved” because the road “lacked the required surface texture”.
Thomas Gallagher (56), a construction supervisor from Askill, Bunnacurry, Achill, was giving evidence at the inquest in Castlebar into the death of his daughter at Mulranny, Westport, on December 22nd, 2004, when her van collided with a cement mixer truck.
Ms Gallagher, whom her father described as “an irreplaceable loss to her family”, had not long graduated from college with an honours degree in legal studies with taxation.
Mayo County Council, which had been carrying out roadworks at the spot where Ms Gallagher lost her life, denies any responsibility in her death.
The dead woman’s family has long been campaigning for the cause of her death to be investigated and recently gave evidence before an Oireachtas committee.
The inquest into her death had been adjourned on a number of occasions for various reasons over the years.
Mr Gallagher was one of the witnesses yesterday when the inquest, conducted by the coroner for south Mayo, John O’Dwyer, got under way before a jury.
Mr Gallagher, who has more than 30 years’ experience in road construction, maintenance and heavy civil engineering, said he went to say a prayer at the scene on the day after the crash.
He said that standing on the road for the first time he immediately recognised the surface as being dense bitumen macadam (DBM).
Mr Gallagher said he made a further visit to the site on December 27th and found the section of road contained a larger than normal amount of small aggregate/fines.
He added: “The road surface had a new centre white line and a broken yellow edge line, which to the average motorist displayed a message that this was a finished product and a surface fit for purpose.”
Mr Gallagher said he had travelled the stretch of road on both Monday, December 20th, and Tuesday, December 21st, and he could say without doubt there were no flashing lights or signs of any description in place to indicate caution or reduced speed.
But, Mr Gallagher continued, on the evening of December 23rd, just before 6pm the presence of a temporary set of flashing traffic lights, as the family was passing homeward with Ashling’s coffin, highlighted that additional care and attention was required by all road users.
The witness said that at his daughter’s funeral the overwhelming comment and issue of debate from those who noted the flowers at the crash scene was the smoothness of the road surface.
Evidence was given to the hearing by investigating Garda Michael Holmes that the newly constructed roadway at Murrivaugh, Mulranny, at the time of the crash had permanent white lines in place and had a general speed limit of 60 miles per hour.
Tom Munster, the driver of the truck owned by Corcoran’s Concrete, Westport, gave evidence that the red Caddy van was on its correct side of the road when he first sighted it. He added: “Then for no apparent reason this Caddy van completely crossed the white line onto my side of the road. I braked and swerved to my left immediately but in an instant the van had come straight under the front of my lorry.”
Mr Munster went on to say the whole thing happened in a split second.
Afterwards, when he looked below him, he could see the engine of the van was exposed.
The inquest is to resume today.