A file is about to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions by the Garda following the criminal inquiry into the death of racing cyclist Ryan McCarthy last year. He was just 25 years old when he was fatally crushed while cycling.
Cyclist Ryan McCarthy death caused by crush injuries
Dublin cyclist Ryan McCarthy died of crush injuries sustained in a collision with a sweeper truck last year, an inquest into his death has been told.
The inquest, at Dublin Coroner’s Court, has now been adjourned after a brief sitting so that the Garda inquiry into the fatality can continue.
Det Insp Liam Kelly told the inquest that gardai were expecting to submit a file on the case to the DPP in the next two weeks.
It is the DPP’s office that decides whether criminal charges should be pressed in such cases. Normally inquests are adjourned until after the criminal justice process has run its course.
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Ryan (25), from Grangebrook Avenue, Rathfarnham, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash took place on White Church Road in Rathfarnham at about 1.30pm on November 17th last.
As well as the Garda inquiry, the Health & Safety Authority is also carrying out an investigation into the fatal crash.
The inquest heard that Ryan McCarthy’s mother, Stephanie McCarthy, formally identified her son.
She did so at Tallaght Hospital to Sgt Brian Flynn before a post mortem was carried out.
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Dr Barbara Loftus told the inquest the post mortem established the cause of death as crush injuries.
After hearing details of identification and cause of death, the inquest was adjourned until October 4th.
In the period before his death, Ryan McCarthy had been cycling with Orwell Wheelers in south Dublin.
The club also lost rider Tonya McEvoy last February. The 34-year-old child care worker was in collision with a vehicle on a training ride in Co Kildare.
Ryan was from a competitive cycling family. His sister Leah McCarthy is a mountain bike rider.
Ryan’s uncle Peter Buggle is well known in off road racing circles. His grandfather, Paddy Buggle, competed in track racing in the 1930s.
Death took place during bad year for cycling
Ryan was the 13th cyclist to be killed on the Republic's roads last year. And between his death and the end of last year the total increased to 15.
That level of cycling fatalities was a significant increase on the previous year when 10 cyclists were killed on the roads.
Since then, Minister for Justice Shane Ross TD has pledged to introducing a minimum passing distance to help protect cyclists.
Under the promised new law, drivers would be required to allow a distance of 1m or 1.5m when overtaking cyclists.
The Government's promise to bring in the new legislation followed a passionate and energetic campaign, led by Phil Skelton of Stayin' Alive at 1.5.
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