Cyclist suffered fatal head injuries in suspected hit and run

The Dublin man sustained fatal head injuries after he was knocked off his bicycle in a suspected hit and run, an inquest heard.

Eugene Maher (62) from the Crescent, Griffith Downs, Whitehall, Dublin 9 was cycling in north Dublin when he was struck by a car.

Mr Maher, a father of two, was knocked off his bike while cycling in the Clontarf area on June 30th, 2015.

The cause of death was severe head injuries, Dublin Coroner’s Court heard. League of Ireland soccer star Stephen Maher took to the witness box to identify his father as an inquest into the death was opened and adjourned.

Detective Inspector Sean Campbell told the court that a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and a reply is "imminent'.

Det Insp Campbell applied for a three month adjournment of the inquest to allow for the DPP’s direction in relation to the case.

Stephen Maher said in his deposition that he identified his father Eugene's body to Sgt Michael Higgins at Beaumont Hospital on July 1st, 2015.

Sgt Higgins, of Dublin Airport Garda station said he identified Eugene Maher's body directly to State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy prior to postmortem examination.

In her report, Prof Cassidy returned the cause of death as severe head injuries as a result of an incident.

Mr Maher’s wife Marie Maher wept as the coroner read out the cause of death. She was in court with her two children, daughter Lisa, a model and son Stephen, who plays for Drogheda United.

Dr Farrell extended his sympathies to the family saying he was aware of further details in the case but could not comment until after the DPP’s decision.