A verdict of accidental death has been returned at the inquest into the death of Ed Duggan, who was killed on a club spin four years ago.
Stickybottle reported just days ago on the memorial cycle held last weekend in Co Kerry to remember Mr Duggan on the anniversary of being killed. And now an inquest into his death has been concluded.
Ed Duggan died after he was hit by a car on November 15th, 2015, while cycling on the N22 at Scart, Farranfore, Co Kerry.
A 36-year-old Killarney CC rider, Mr Duggan was out with
his club mates on a Sunday morning spin at the time.
The vehicle that hit the deceased cyclist was driven by
Sean O’Mahony (34) with an address at Ballybeggan, Tralee, Co Kerry.
Mr O’Mahony first appeared before Killarney District Court
in May, 2016, charged with dangerous driving causing death but he was acquitted
earlier this year.
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The trial heard evidence that the driver had been blinded
by the sun and ran into the back of Mr Duggan, inflicting fatal injuries on
him.
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On the morning of the fatal crash the group of cyclists
Mr Duggan was with had been riding for two hours and was on its way back
towards Killarney at about 11.15am.
The riders stopped briefly close to Scart Cross about 3km
from Killarney and shortly after they resumed their ride Mr Duggan was hit from
behind by the car driven by Mr O’Mahony.
He said he was not speeding and he did not see Mr Duggan
because the sun came out and blinded him. The inquest was told he was pulling
down his vizor when impact occurred.
The car was being driven at 70km per hour, within the
speed limit, and no skid marks were found on the road.
Garda Jim O’ Brien’s evidence to the inquest stated other
drivers in the area at the time had also said the sun was blinding.
Garda O’Brien also formed the view that after stopping Mr
Duggan had resumed his ride with urgency, before being hit from behind.
This assumption was questioned by Mr Duggan’s partner
Siobhan O’Dwyer who said she knew him well and there would have been no sense
of urgency
Coroner Aisling Quilter stated the medical cause of death
was brain and spinal injury, returning a verdict of accidental death.
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