A coroner yesterday called for traffic-calming measures to be implemented at a junction where a young family was killed in 2006.
The inquest in Wexford town was told that Jacinta Sinnott (24), Duncormick, Co Wexford, and her children, Chelsea (7), Trevor (4) and Tanya (18 months) and her partner, Lee Murphy, were travelling in Ms Sinnott's Nissan hatchback on the night of October 11th, 2006, when she pulled out at Larkin's Cross, a notorious junction outside Wexford town on the New Ross road, and was hit by a lorry.
The crash left her car a tangled mess of steel and killed Ms Sinnott, Trevor and Tanya instantly. The inquest recorded verdicts of death due to multiple head injuries in all cases.
Sgt Alma Molloy said that on arrival at the scene, she noticed a grey car parked on the right-hand-side of the road and an articulated lorry stopped about 25m beyond it. She spoke to the lorry driver, Waldemar Jaskowiak, a Polish national residing at Brooklawn, New Ross, and took his details.
Insp Mick Walsh read Mr Jaskowiak's Garda statement in which he said he had been in Rosslare Europort and was on his way to New Ross with a load of steel. He was travelling at 80km/h when he noticed a car approaching the junction. "I was trying to avoid the car. I applied the brakes probably too late. There was no time," he said.
The inquest heard that the car swung around the right side of the truck on impact and ended up in a grass verge on the right-hand-side of the road.
Mr Jaskowiak got out of his cab and saw Lee Murphy in the passenger seat and heard a child crying. He said he tried to get them out, but couldn't.
The bodies were removed to Wexford General Hospital.
Mr Murphy, Redmond Street, Enniscorthy, said he was 16 at the time and had been living with Ms Sinnott for a month. They were returning from an errand in nearby Taghmon when the crash occurred. "I remember seeing a red cab with a white back. The next thing I remember seeing was just a flash of lights on the right-hand-side. I woke up in Wexford General Hospital."
Ms Sinnott's other child, Chelsea, survived. The inquest heard that both Mr Murphy and Chelsea were sitting on the left side of the vehicle farthest from the point of impact. Mr Murphy sustained chest injuries and broke an arm, while Chelsea suffered a broken right arm and superficial cuts.
Insp Walsh said a file on the crash was sent to the DPP but he decided not to pursue a conviction. He said the fact that Larkin's Cross is dangerous was discussed at a traffic meeting of Wexford County Council early last year and plans were in train for traffic calming there.
Coroner Jimmy Murphy said: "It's becoming a joke now with the council. I could write to them, but nothing would be done. It's up to the councillors and the people in the area."
A member of the Sinnott family said: "There was never a bad accident at Larkin's Cross, then they took off the filter lane leading into it."
Insp Walsh said the junction was being examined by the Road Safety Authority as it carries such a high volume of traffic.
"It is further compounded by the fact that a whole family was taken. I don't have words that can ease the pain of this. It is something that will stay forever in the memories of me and my colleagues."
Insp Walsh said the sooner something was done about the junction, the better.
The coroner said: "How many accidents are going to come off of that road before something is done? Whether it's in defiance of the people of the area, I don't know."