A young man who was fatally injured after he was hit by a car driven by an off-duty garda died from crush injuries, an inquest has heard.
State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy, who carried out a postmortem on the body of Derek O'Toole (24), Shancastle Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin, said he died as a result of crush injuries sustained to his head and chest due to vehicular trauma, Dublin County Coroner's Court was told yesterday.
The Dublin county coroner, Dr Kieran Geraghty, adjourned the inquest into Mr O'Toole's death until October under section 25.1 of the Coroner's Act following an application by Insp JJ Keane of Clondalkin Garda station, to facilitate ongoing Garda investigations into the death.
Mr O'Toole died after he was hit by a car driven by an off-duty garda on the main street in Lucan in the early hours of March 4th, 2007. He was returning home after a night out with friends, having accompanied a friend to her house in Lucan, when he was struck by the car.
Mr O'Toole was removed to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, where he was pronounced dead at 7.30am.
A serving member of the Garda was arrested after the incident and was breathalysed, but he was found not to be over the drink-driving limit.
Gardaí have indicated in the past that Mr O'Toole was lying on the ground when the car hit him.
Mr O'Toole's family have said they want a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding their son's death.