Verdict of accidental death returned on shooting
An inquest held in Cavan Courthouse yesterday heard of how on Christmas Day 2005, Sarah Blakely, of Tawlaught, Ballyheelan, Kilnaleck, Co Cavan, was killed when her then 20-year-old brother, Alan Blakely, went to retrieve a shotgun from behind their sitting room couch and accidentally fired a shot. A second shot went off as he then dropped the gun, because of a fault with the gun’s safety mechanism.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death due to a shotgun wound to the chest. They also recommended further testing of the type of gun involved and said all guns should have an automatic safety lock.
