Polish men’s bodies to be released today

THE bodies of four Polish men killed in a horrific road accident in Cork at the weekend are expected to be released by the authorities today following a fast-tracked inquest yesterday.

Gardaí told coroner Frank O'Connell that they had obtained objective evidence establishing the identity of each of the deceased who were killed in a head-on collision involving their Opel Astra and a truck at Goggan's Hill in Ballinhassig, Co Cork, just after 10pm on Friday night.

They were named as Sylwester Szczyrow, 25, Andrzej Wojciechowski, 27, and Rafal Gorski, 28, all with an address at 42, Parknamore Rise, Ballincollig, Co Cork, and Radoslaw Nowak, 23, with an address at 12, Longrange, Powdermills, also in Ballincollig.

All four were originally from the Mazuria area of north-eastern Poland.

Speaking through an interpreter, Justyna Krystjaniak told the inquest she knew each of the men and had shared a house with Mr Nowak for the last three months.

She identified their bodies to gardaí at Cork University Hospital on Saturday morning.

Detective Sergeant Gerry McCarthy said gardaí had also obtained photocopies of the dead men's passports.

Deputy State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster told the inquest each of the men died instantly from massive injuries consistent with a road traffic accident.

The driver of the car, Mr Szczyrow, who worked with Carey's Tool Hire, suffered multiple internal injuries, including a torn superior vena cava the main vein in the upper body and multiple skull fractures.

Mr Wojciechowski, an unemployed motor mechanic, was sitting in the front passenger seat. He died from severe head and brain injuries.

Mr Gorski, a general operative with Winthrop Engineering on Ballincollig's Link Road, was the rear left passenger. He suffered a torn aorta and skull fractures and died from haemorrhage and shock.

Mr Nowak, who worked in the Statoil petrol station in Ballincollig, was the back right passenger. He suffered a complete trans-section of the aorta and died from haemorrhage and shock.

Dr Bolster said their deaths would have been rapid and sudden.

Mr O'Connell said he would complete each of the death certificates quickly to allow for the speedy repatriation of the men's bodies to Poland.

The bodies are expected to be released to a Polish undertaker later today for road and ferry transport back to Poland.

The funerals are expected to take place either this Friday or next Monday.

Mr O'Connell offered his sympathies on behalf of the Irish people to the men's friends in Ireland, and to their families in Poland.

"This was one of the very worst accidents I've come across in my time as coroner in this region," he said.

"It is a dreadful blow to the Polish community, their friends and to the people of Ballincollig."

He commended Ms Krystjaniak for her courage identifying her friends' bodies.

"It is not an easy thing for a young person to do," he said.

He also praised Garda Declan Lynch from Ballinhassig for his work on the case.

Mr O'Connell adjourned the inquest for mention on June 30 at which time a date will be set for a full inquest.

Speaking after the inquest, Roy Coughlan, the regional manager of Winthrop Engineering, paid tribute to Mr Gorski who worked in the firm's mechanical division.

"He was an excellent employee but he was our friend as well," he said.

"Our foreman said the other day that he was best fella he's ever worked with. He was even offered a four-year apprenticeship but he turned it down."

Mr Coughlan was due to travel to Poland last night with Ms Krystjaniak and Grace Gliwinska, who helps Polish people find accommodation and work in Cork, to attend the funerals.

Ms Gliwinska paid tribute to the men and thanked those who have offered support since the accident.

"They were the best friends I ever had," she said.

"It is a tragedy for everyone, and for their families. They were well known for helping other Polish people who arrived in Ireland."

A funeral in Poland costs the equivalent of 10 months' wages. Up to €4,000 half the amount needed to pay for all four funerals was collected during a memorial mass in St Augustine's Church on Monday and from people in Ballincollig to help the men's families.

Donations to Bank of Ireland, Ballincollig. Sort code: 90-26-45, account number: 10367885.