Lessons have been learned in the wake of the tragic death of a 23-year-old girl whose car was hit by a falling tree in storms just a few days before Christmas last year, Westmeath Coroner’s Court was told this week by a Westmeath County Council official.
On Tuesday of this week, an inquest was held into the death of Aisling Maguire, in an accident which occurred at Grange, Mullingar, on 18 December, 2013. Coroner for Westmeath, Dr. Wilfred Hoover returned a verdict of accidental death having heard evidence that the young woman died from injuries she sustained when a tree fell on the car she was driving on the Ballymahon Road, just outside of Mullingar.
DANGEROUS TREE
The inquest heard witness testimony that the tree had fallen very suddenly, “in a split second,” with results of an expert forensic examination confirming that the driver would have had no time to react or avoid the tree as it fell.
A file subsequently compiled for the DPP as a result of the garda investigation into the fatality included the report of an arborist who examined the fallen tree and found that it was “completely rotten.”
Evidence was given that a complaint about a dangerous tree on that road had been logged with the Customer Complaints Management System at Westmeath County County Council on 11 November, 2013.
Mr. Declan Leonard, Senior Executive Officer with Westmeath County Council, told the hearing that this complaint was followed up by a supervisor with 39 years of experience with the Council.
This inspection had not identified a dangerous tree and none were considered to be an imminent threat to road users. An earlier planning application for a housing development on the land had recommended that the trees be retained.
Mr. Leonard said that it was the policy of the Council to notify landowners if dangerous trees were identified or, if an imminent risk was confirmed, the Council had the authority to cut that tree down.
He told the Coroner’s Court that it was not clear if the tree referred to in the complaint to the Council was the same one that fell, claiming the life of Aisling Maguire on 18 December.
Mr. Leonard was asked if anyone from the Council had contacted the original complainant to ask if they could pinpoint the tree they considered a threat to safety. Mr. Leonard admitted that they had not. Dr. Hoover said such a follow-up was something that the Authority should consider doing in the future and Mr. Leonard agreed.
LESSONS LEARNED
Legal counsel, representing Westmeath County Council in the Coroner’s Court, gave an assurance that “lessons have been learned from this tragic accident. An arborist’s opinion is sought if there is any doubt and notices are served where complaints come in regarding dangerous trees.”
On the day of the accident, 32 trees had fallen around the county, as severe weather conditions brought heavy rain and strong winds. A Met Éireann report had identified force 11 winds throughout the day.
Gerry Maguire, father of the deceased, told the inquest that his daughter was on her way to attend the removal in Mullingar of a patient of Newbrook Nursing Home, where she had been working.
SUDDEN
Another motorist, Padraig Flynn said in his deposition that he was travelling to Mullingar, saw a car ahead and then the rear lights of the car disappeared and a tree was suddenly on the whole road in front of his own car.
Another witness travelling in the opposite direction stated that just after 4pm on that day, he was travelling on the Ballymahon Road and realised it was blocked. He saw a car on the verge of the footpath. The car was damaged and the female driver was slumped in the front of the vehicle.
The alarm was raised and emergency personnel responded. Paramedic Sandra Rock told the Coroner’s Court that the patient was not conscious and was having difficulty breathing. She was taken from the car and brought to the Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar. On route, she had suffered cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at the Accident and Emergency Department of the hospital.
Dr. Charles d’Adhemar, Consultant Pathologist, cited massive blunt chest trauma due to crushing by a falling tree as the cause of death.
The inquest was told that an examination by Garda Cliff Harding, Fatal Collision Investigator, had found no faults in the car being driven by Miss Maguire. He had concluded that the tree had blown down onto the windscreen and roof of the car and that the driver would have had no time to react or avoid the tree.
The Coroner, Dr. Hoover, expressed his sympathy to the parents and family of the late Aisling Maguire, sentiments also extended by the foreman on behalf of the jury and by the Gardai.
