Inquiry into 2001 Donegal road death

THE EU’s Committee on Petitions has confirmed it is to ask the European Commission to begin an investigation into the death of a Donegal woman in a road incident eight years ago.

This has been welcomed as a major breakthrough for the family of Sinead McDaid (22), of Carndonagh, Co Donegal, who died after her vehicle went out of control on a straight stretch of road near Culdaff village in June 2001. Donegal County Council was carrying out road-resurfacing works on the stretch at the time.

Her car hit loose chippings, skidded and went down an embankment, landing on its roof in a field. She died in an ambulance en route to Altnagelvin hospital in Derry.

Her parents, Seán and Magdelene Farren, have contended since that road signs warning of the loose chippings were inadequate as they were hidden in long grass.

The petitions committee agreed in January to begin an investigation into the maintenance of non-national roads by Ireland’s local authorities, on foot of a petition submitted by Ms McDaid’s father, Seán Farren.

This week, he received correspondence from Marcin Libicki, chairman of the Committee on Petitions, saying it had considered his petition and “decided that the issues which you raise are admissible in accordance with the rules of procedure of the European Parliament.

“The committee . . . decided to ask the European Commission to conduct a preliminary investigation of the various aspects of the problem.”

Mr Farren will be asked to give oral evidence to the commission’s investigation team in September. He said he was “very pleased” there seemed finally to be some movement in the family’s quest to have Donegal County Council answer questions as to its possible role in Ms McDaid’s death.

Earlier this month, it also emerged Taoiseach Brian Cowen was examining “as a matter of urgency” progress in the investigation into the death.

The family have also argued their daughter died while working and so her death should be investigated by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).

The HSA agreed in 2006 and attempted to investigate the death but its powers to do so were challenged by judicial review instigated by Donegal county manager Michael McLoone. Judgment in that case has been reserved. The HSA says it must await judgment before proceeding.

Donegal County Council was unable to comment last night.