A Dublin inquest jury yesterday called on cyclists to wear helmets, reflective bands, ensure they have front and rear lights and to maintain their machines properly. The safety call came after an inquest at Dublin City Coroner's Court heard how Mr Patrick McCarthy (59), of Belclare Grove, Ballymun, suffered multiple injuries when he was struck by a car at Ballymun Road in January. He died the next day.
Witnesses said Mr McCarthy veered across the road into the path of an oncoming car. He had no lights on his bicycle and an inspection showed that it had defective brakes. The foreman of the jury said Mr McCarthy might have been alive today if he was wearing a helmet.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.