Young Kildare motorcyclist seen speeding shortly before fatal collision, inquest hears

A YOUNG motorcyclist from Kildare was seen speeding and swerving in treacherous road conditions on a dark wet night shortly before he was involved in a crash on the main Athy-Kilcullen road three years ago, an inquest has heard.

Seán O’Beirne (20) from Oldcourt, Athy, Co Kildare suffered fatal injuries in a collision between his motorcycle and a car on the R418 at Fontstown Cross, Co Kildare shortly after 9.20pm on 27 October 2023.

Mr O’Beirne was brought to Tallaght University Hospital by ambulance but was pronounced dead from his injuries eight days later on 4 November 2023.

An inquest at Dublin District Coroner’s Court heard the motorcyclist was on the opposite side of the road to the direction he was travelling in when his vehicle collided with an Audi A1.

Another motorist gave evidence of seeing the victim overtake him at speed shortly before the collision.

Dominic Jacob told the inquest that a motorbike “flew past” him while he was talking to his girlfriend on a phone using a hands-free set.

Mr Jacob estimated that the motorcyclist must have been travelling at around 100 kph as it “disappeared out of sight in seconds,” while he was adhering to the 60 kph speed limit at the time.

The witness said he recalled remarking at the time to his girlfriend that “that lad will be killed off the bike”.

Mr Jacob said he came across a collision about a minute later when he saw something on the road before realising it was the motorcyclist he had seen a short time earlier.

He said there were two other people standing on the road who appeared shocked.

The driver of the vehicle involved in the collision, Sophie Kelly-McHale, who was dropping her boyfriend back to his home in Tullow, Co Carlow, said she had checked in both directions before turning right onto the Athy-Kilcullen road.

As she pulled out of the junction and reached the correct side of the road, Ms Kelly-McHale said she saw the light of the motorcycle.

The witness said it seemed like the motorcyclist had lost control of the vehicle with the speed he was doing and appeared to swerve towards her side of the road.

“There was nothing I could do,” said Ms Kelly-McHale, who was uninjured in the crash.

The inquest heard an examination of both vehicles by a public service vehicle inspector had found no problem with either the motorbike or car that could have played a contributory role in the crash.

A forensic collision investigator, Garda Christopher O’Mara, said the point of impact was on the side of the road in which the car was travelling in a southbound direction Garda O’Mara said the speed of the motorbike at the point of impact could not be determined.

The witness said he discovered a recent tyre mark a short distance from the collision site which provided evidence of a locked wheel.

While Garda O’Mara said such a tyre mark would indicate very heavy braking, he could not definitively say it was caused by Mr O’Beirne’s motorbike.

He pointed out that the motorbike had struck the driver’s side of the car along the front wing before the driver’s door which indicated Ms Kelly-McHale had not fully straightened her vehicle after turning onto the R418.

However, Garda O’Mara said the Audi A1 was fully on the correct side of the road at the point of impact.

In reply to questions from coroner Clare Keane, he said it was more difficult for road users to perceive the distance of an approaching motorcycle than cars because they only had one headlight.

Sergeant Stephen Cush told the inquest that the DPP had directed that no criminal prosecutions should arise from the fatal collision.

However, Sgt Cush said he had issued Ms Kelly-McHale with a fixed charge notice for driving unaccompanied as a learner driver.

Sgt Cush said he believed treacherous road conditions on the night were a “significant factor” in the crash which he described as “just a tragic accident.” The inquest heard doctors at Tallaght University Hospital describe how Mr O’Beirne suffered devastating brain injuries.

Dr Keane said the results of a postmortem showed he had died as a result of complications of polytrauma as a result of a road traffic collision.

Returning a verdict of death by misadventure, the coroner said she had to take into account the evidence of speeding in the case.

“The speed element can be lethal,” Dr Keane remarked.

The coroner offered her condolences to the deceased’s parents, Leona and Michael O’Beirne, who attended the hearing.