A drunk driver who crashed while driving the wrong way down a motorway, killing herself and another driver, deliberately ignored and evaded attempts by gardaí and civilian drivers to stop her, an inquest heard.
At Dublin Coroner’s Court a verdict of unlawful killing was returned at the inquest into the death of Delia Flaherty (33), Carraroe, Co Galway, after the jury heard that Helen Gonoude (66) crashed head-on into her on the M6 motorway outside Moate, Westmeath, on June 28th last year.
A previous inquest held in Offaly heard that Gonoude, of Killeigh, Co Offaly, was 2½ times over the legal limit at the time. She was spotted travelling eastbound on the westbound motorway by a council worker who attempted to stop her but she drove around him. Gardaí then attempted to block her but she ignored them and drove around on the hard shoulder.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said that given the enormity of the risk factors involved, a verdict of death by accident would not do justice for Ms Flaherty. The jury returned a verdict of death by unlawful killing and made a recommendation that all gardaí be given full training in creating road blocks.