Boy dies after fall from car bonnet

A 14-YEAR-OLD boy, staying with relations during a midterm break, died after a fall from a car bonnet, an inquest heard.

Maurice Quirke, of Renard South, Caherciveen, Co Kerry, died from head injuries in the tragedy on February 21, 2007.

Coroner Helen Lucey heard the boy was staying at the home of his grand-father, John Stack, near Lixnaw, Co Kerry, during a school break.

His uncle, Patrick Stack, told an inquest in Tralee that when they came out of the house, Maurice stood up on the bonnet but would not sit into the car, despite a number of requests.

Mr Stack said Maurice was laughing as he drove slowly up the road. He then stopped the car and told him to get in. Maurice got off the bonnet, but then stood up on a step on the passenger side. It was all a bit of fun, Mr Stack added.

Something then ran out in the front of them and they stopped to see what it was.

He said Maurice then made to jump up on the bonnet, but slipped and fell to the ground. He was bleeding from the nose but was conscious. Mr Stack then took him back into the house and made a 999 call.

The boy’s aunt, Paula Stack, attempted resuscitation in the house but he died later that night at Kerry General Hospital in Tralee.

Assistant state pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said the boy had very severe head injuries and a fractured skull consistent with a fall on the back of the head.

A jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence that death was due to brain swelling and haemorrhaging.