Firefighter was knocked down by colleague’s body, court told

A FIREFIGHTER told how he was knocked to the ground by the body of a colleague which had been hurled violently through the air when a car smashed into emergency services personnel as they were attending a road traffic accident in Co Limerick.

Medical evidence was given at Limerick Circuit Court that Garda Brian Kelleher and firefighter, Mike Liston, died from “multiple catastrophic injuries consistent with a high-speed vehicle impact”.

They had gone to the scene of a single car accident and were recovering property from an upturned car when they were killed.

Apprentice carpenter, Niall Shannon, aged 20, of Lenamore, Ballylongford, has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Garda Kelleher, aged 46 and firefighter, Mr Liston, aged 47, while having excess alcohol.

Garda Kelleher and Mr Liston died at Barrigone on the Foynes to Askeaton road on February 25, 2007. Firefighter, Eddie Murphy said moments before Garda Kelleher and Mr Liston died, they were joking like they normally would.

On hearing two bangs he saw them being struck by a car and thrown into the air. As he turned to the ditch to avoid this car, he was knocked down.

It was only later he realised he was struck by Mike Liston as he was hurtled through the air.

Foynes firefighter, Ian Behan, said he took up a position on the Foynes’ side of the first accident with an illuminated stick. There was a blue flashing light on the road and a warning sign.

A car approached at speed and he moved to the centre of the road to get it to slow down.

This car momentarily dropped gear and then accelerated past him. He ran after it shouting a warning “car”. He then heard a bang.

Firefighter Sabrina McCarthy said they had erected a 20ft high stem light to illuminate the scene of the first accident and this had a blue flashing light on top.

Other emergency vehicles at the scene also had their lights flashing.

She learned Ian Behan had a problem with his radio, and decided to get a replacement and take it to him.

She was reaching into the cab, holding onto the seat, when the open door was hit from behind.

Ms McCarthy continued: “I looked out the windscreen and saw a body in the air with a fluorescent jacket. It was moving.”

On running down the road she came on firefighter Eddie Murphy, on the ground and Mike Liston who was laying on a wall. She saw Garda Kelleher’s body nearby.

Martin Griffin recalled getting a message from his daughter Maura at around 4.20 that she had been in an accident near Foynes and was not injured.

Her car had overturned and she managed to get free of it before going to a nearby house. Mr Griffin said he and his wife set out to get to the scene from their home near Ballybunion.

As he drove towards Foynes he could see blue flashing lights about three miles away, as the crow flies.

On approaching the scene of his daughter’s accident he saw a man with a red flashing light a few hundred yards from the scene.

Deputy State pathologist, Dr Michael Curtis, who carried out post mortems on the dead men, said they died from catastrophic injuries consistent with a high speed impact.

He said Mr Liston’s injuries included fractures to the skull and multiple fractures to the chest and lower body.

Dr Curtis said Garda Kelleher’s multiple injuries included a completely torn aorta.

The trial before Mr Justice Carroll Moran and a jury of seven women and five men continues today.