Verdict of accidental death on garda in patrol car crash

A verdict of accidental death has been recorded at the inquest of a garda who was killed when his patrol car crashed into another vehicle when responding to an emergency call.

Garda Eoin Fitzgerald (25), from Bray, Co Wicklow, died instantly when the car he was driving collided with the other vehicle at the junction of Greenfield Road and The Rise in Mount Merrion, Dublin, on the morning of January 26th last. The dead man, who was the son of assistant Garda commissioner Mr Peter Fitzgerald, died of head injuries.

A colleague, Garda Peter Mullen, who was in the passenger seat, was able to climb from the wreckage of the Ford Mondeo car. The driver of the other car, a BMW, which was catapulted into the front garden of a nearby house, was injured. Driving conditions at the time were good and the road was dry.

The inquest was told the two gardai, who were attached to Blackrock Garda station, were responding to a priority panic alarm at a house in Mount Merrion. Garda Mullen said he put on his seat belt but could not recall if Garda Fitzgerald had done so. The siren was not operating.

As they were approaching the junction, Garda Mullen said he noticed a white car coming from the right. "All I remember then is the patrol car resting on its side." Using his feet, he managed to open the door of the extensively-damaged patrol car. Garda Mullen said he injured his hand, hip, chest and neck and had been off duty since the accident.

An Eastern Health Board ambulance attendant who was called to the scene said he found that Garda Fitzgerald's seat belt was not in place. Mr Alan Billington said he could find "no vital signs" that the garda was alive. "The patrol car was virtually on top of him."

A Garda inspector who came to investigate the accident said he found that the front seat belts were in the upright or neutral position. Insp Michael Kilroe said there were no traffic lights at the junction but there were stop signs on Greenfield Road. The patrol car should have stopped at the stop signs, he told the coroner, Dr Brian Farrell.

Ms Tanya Greenlee, a marketing student, said she saw the Garda car overtaking another car on Greenfield Avenue. It was travelling at about 60 m.p.h. and its siren and flashing beacon were not switched on. There was no sound of brakes before it collided with the BMW at the junction.

Dr Farrell said witnesses had a clear view of the accident and there was no doubt what had happened. It was clear from the evidence that the flashing light and beacon on the Garda car were not operational.

Returning a verdict of accidental death, he extended his sympathies to the dead garda's family and his fiancee, who were present in court.