A FATHER-OF-THREE who suffered a severe brain injury following a car crash might not have died had the front airbags deployed, a Dublin inquest has heard.
Patrick Delaney (56), of Prebawn, Moylisker, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, died at the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dublin on July 21st, 2009. A pulmonary embolism was given as the immediate cause of death.
However, Dublin city coroner Brian Farrell said Mr Delaney died from complications of being in hospital as a result of a head injury.
Mr Delaney suffered the injury in a single-vehicle crash on the N52 Mullingar to Tullamore road on December 17th 2008. He was a front passenger in the car.
Returning a narrative verdict, the jury said Mr Delaney might never have suffered the head injury had the airbags deployed.
They recommended the coroner write to Opel Ireland about the front airbags not deploying.