Coroner's concerns over road where Mayo mother and daughter were killed

A section of the N26 in Co. Mayo where a mother and her daughter were killed last month was described by a coroner today as ‘not fit for modern traffic’.

Patrick O’Connor, Coroner for the District of Mayo, made his comments at the opening of an inquest into the deaths of Aisling Moore (46) and her eight year old daughter, Abbigael Tournie Moore.

Aisling and Abbigael died on July 2 last when their car collided with a lorry at Callow between Foxford and Swinford.

Eamon Moore, father of Aisling and grandfather of Abbigael, attended the brief hearing as did Aisling’s sister, Anita.

Coroner O’Connor told the family members he knew they shared his concerns about the safety of the stretch of road where their loved ones died.

“The local authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) will have to do something about the stretch of road," he continued.

A pathologist gave evidence that the medical cause of death in Aisling’s case was extensive fatal injuries including multiple fractures and head injuries.

The medical cause of Abbigael’s death was extensive head injuries sustained in a road traffic accident, pathologist Dr. Tamas Nemeth said.

Coroner O’Connor informed the family it would take some time before a full inquiry/investigation is carried out.

He said he was opening the inquest so that a State death certificate could be issued.

“The garda investigation will be thorough and will take quite an amount of time," the coroner stated.

He then adjourned the substantive inquest hearing pending the completion of the garda investigation.

Gardai, first responders and civilians who attended at the accident scene were thanked by the coroner and Sergeant Ronan Drury, courts presenter for An Garda Siochana.