Son died after drunk father crashed

THE driver of a people carrier that crashed, resulting in the death of his four-year-old son, had earlier consumed eight pints and several shots of whiskey in Ballybunion, an inquest heard in Tralee.

John McDonagh, of Lady’s Walk, Ballyduff, Co Kerry, failed to negotiate a bend on the road between Ballybunion and Ballyduff, on the afternoon of July 30, 2006, and collided with a telegraph pole, a Garda witness told the inquest.

Also in the vehicle were his wife, Winifred, since deceased, and their two children, one of whom, Bernard, died in the accident.