Inquest records accidental death where car fell into sea

A VERDICT of accidental death has been recorded over three young friends who drowned after their car toppled into the sea at Dunboy Castle, west Cork, earlier this year.

At the close of the inquest, acting coroner for west Cork, Frank O'Connell said there was "still no indication at all of anything other than the driver simply losing control and going over the edge".

"We know that the car was driving up and down in front of the castle and there were some handbrake turns, but for some reason as the car was driving along, it turned to the right and went out over the grass and the bank. We haven't been given a reason why this happened."

Colum Harrington (21), West End, Bere Island, Shane Kelly (20), Allihies, Co Cork, and Fintan O'Driscoll (17), Foildarrig, Castletownbere, all died in the freak accident that took place in front of Dunboy Castle near Castletownbere in the early hours of March 1st, 2008.

The inquest was opened at Bantry District Court on October 8th when evidence was heard that none of the victims had taken alcohol or drugs. On that day, two survivors of the tragedy, Cillian O'Sullivan (19) and Greg Harrington (18), gave accounts of what happened on the night.

The hearing was adjourned until yesterday on behalf of the Kelly and O'Driscoll families who wished to call an independent expert to give evidence.

Consulting motor engineer Liam Cotter said he was satisfied that the Ford Fiesta being driven by Mr Kelly was in serviceable pre-accident condition and that in his opinion there was no way he could have been attempting a handbrake turn at the actual site of the accident.

Mr Cotter said the shoulder of the bank had collapsed in parts along the side of the road, reducing the width of the road on which the car was travelling. He suggested that the car could have dropped into one of these collapsed areas and left the road.

Mr Cotter agreed with the evidence of Garda Mark O'Connor that the car was probably travelling at about 15mph when it left the bank and landed upside down six metres from the shore.