Inquest hears conflicting evidence on driver’s speed

A MOTHER wept at an inquest yesterday as she heard conflicting evidence about the speed a driver was allegedly doing when he crashed, fatally injuring her 19-year-old son, a front seat passenger in the car.

A reconvened inquest into the death of Shane Cooney, from Coolkista, Coachford, Co Cork, heard two witnesses contradict evidence given by the driver of the car, Tom Lyons.

The inquest had to be adjourned last month when Mr Lyons, from Carriganima, Macroom, failed to appear. The coroner, Dr Michael Kennedy, issued a summons to him to appear in Mallow yesterday.