Road victim struck Garda patrol car

A CRASH in which a 22-year-old Co Cork man died after his car collided with a Garda patrol car, near Killarney, on September 24 last, was described at an inquest in Co Kerry yesterday.

Jeremiah Harrington, of 74 Riverview Estate, Tower, Blarney, was driving home from Killarney at about 3am, when the accident occurred at Rusheenbeg, Glenflesk, on the main Cork/Killarney road.

Two gardaí in the patrol car were injured.

Garda James Hurley, the driver, told how he and his colleague, Garda Fidelma O’Leary, were heading towards Killarney and were doing no more than100 km/h when a car came around a sweeping bend. The car seemed to be on the wrong side of the road and Garda Hurley applied the brakes.

However, the oncoming car continued onto the wrong side and struck the patrol car at speed.

Garda O’Leary recalled seeing headlights heading straight for their patrol car.

Garda O’Leary, who had suffered multiple trauma injuries, and Garda Hurley were both removed by ambulance to hospital.

Toxicology results taken during the postmortem found the dead man had a blood/alcohol level of 102 mgs. He had died immediately due to the accident.

A jury returned a verdict of accidental death.