No prosecution for fatal ambulance crash

THE family of ambulance crash victim Gloria Corrigan are devastated that no criminal prosecution is to follow.

The 27-year-old woman, from Oriel Park, Emyvale, Co Monaghan, suffered fatal head injuries when she was struck by an ambulance at Hackballscross on the main Dundalk to Castleblaney road last October.

Gloria was struck by the emergency vehicle after she got out of the taxi she was travelling in to help at the scene of a traffic accident.

Bernie Corrigan, Gloria’s older sister, said the family was shocked by the DPP’s decision and would be consulting their solicitor on the matter tomorrow.

“We just cannot believe that the case can be thrown out and no one held responsible for my sister’s death,” she said.

It is understood that the family will consider taking a civil action based on legal advice from their solicitor.

Gloria and a friend were returning home by taxi from a night out organised by the Emyvale GAA Club when they came upon the single-car accident that turned out to be a minor incident.

After pulling over, Gloria and friend, Gabriel McCormack, 43, also from Emyvale, got out of the car to see if they could help the people involved.

As they stood in the dark at the crash scene, the two were struck by the ambulance which was rushing to the scene. Mr McCormack received face and back injuries and was hospitalised for several months.

Bernie said her sister never thought twice about reaching out to someone in trouble. A multi-organ donor, she continued to help people even after her death.

“She was a very outgoing character who enjoyed life and enjoyed people and it would have been natural for her to reach out and try and help someone in trouble,” she said.

Gardaí confirmed yesterday that a member of the force has contacted the dead woman’s family to let them know that the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided against pursuing a criminal prosecution.

A garda based at Dundalk Garda Station said it was understandable that the Corrigan family would be upset by the DPP’s decision.

“This was a tragedy for everyone involved, the families and the ambulance. Obviously an ambulance crew is out to save lives,” he said.

Gloria was a first cousin of Sinead Murphy, also from Emyvale, who was killed in a car accident in Co Wicklow in 1993 and was just 21 years old at the time.