Coroner calls for safety study on 6km stretch of Swinford bypass

THE Coroner for Mayo, Patrick O’Connor, has called on Transport Infrastructure Ireland, in conjunction with Mayo County Council and An Garda Síochána, to undertake a comprehensive safety survey of a six-kilometre stretch of the N5 Swinford bypass.

At an inquest today (Monday) into the death of 64-year-old Brian Bacon from Cloghvoley, Kilkelly, at Carracanada. Swinford, in March of last year, Mr. O’Connor (pictured) said there have been far too many accidents on the section of road over the past 15 to 20 years.

It was no coincidence there had been so many deaths and serious injuries locally, the coroner insisted.

Mr. Bacon died at the scene after his car was rear-ended by another car, propelling it into the path of a lorry.

At today’s inquest, medical evidence was given that Mr. Bacon died from fatal traumatic chest injuries sustained in a road traffic accident.

After returning a verdict of accidental death, the coroner made his comments about a road safety survey which, he proposed, should be undertaken jointly by Transport Infrastructure Ireland - formerly the Road Safety Authority – along with Mayo County Council and An Garda Síochána.

Sergant Margaret O’Connor, on behalf of An Garda Síochána, joined with the coroner in expressing sympathy with Mr. Bacon’s daughters, Jennifer and Allison, and his partner, Ellen Rosemary Lynch.

At Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court earlier this year, a motorist pleaded guilty to careless driving causing Mr. Bacon’s death.

Judge Rory MacCabe imposed a six-month suspended prison sentence and disqualified the defendant from driving for four years.

The judge said the cause of the collision was 'a momentary loss of concentration which had tragic results'.

Similar to comments made today by Coroner O’Connor, Judge MacCabe said he was familiar with the stretch of road where the impact occurred and described it as 'notorious'.

Mr. William O’Connor, solicitor, held a watching brief for Mr. Bacon’s daughters at today’s inquest hearing.