Cyclist fatally injured when struck by son’s car, inquest hears

A MAN sustained fatal injuries when his racing bike was hit by a car driven by his son in a “tragic and freak accident”, an inquest has heard.

Emmanuel “Manzor” Thackaberry, aged 70, of Nurney Bog, Kildoon, Co Kildare, died at Tallaght Hospital on July 7, 2010, more than two weeks after he was struck by a car driven by his son Micheál Thackaberry at Walterstown Crossroads, Nurney, Co Kildare.

Coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty described the incident as a “particularly tragic and freak accident” which had been “an awful experience for the Thackaberry family”.

A daughter of the deceased man, Rose Thackaberry, who was a passenger in the car, had spotted her father and was just about to wave at him when the tragedy occurred on June 20, 2010.

“It looked like he was going to stop... I could just see the car hit the back wheel of his bike and then I saw his face on the windscreen,” said Ms Thackaberry, whose daughter Michaela was a back-seat passenger.

“I just covered my face with my hands then. I remember Michaela screaming and I looked over and he was on the ground.”

The Thackaberry family members had left a birthday celebration in Nurney a short time earlier and took different routes.

Sergeant Donal Prendergast, who examined the scene, said Mr Thackaberry was wearing special shoes which were locked into the pedals of the racing bike, which he believed to be a contributory factor in the collision.

“I would believe he wasn’t able to get them (his feet) out quick enough,” said Sergeant Prendergast.

The presence of hedgerow also restricted the view of the cyclist to his right and the view of the driver, the inquest heard.

They “had less than a one second view of each other. They hadn’t sufficient time to brake and avoid the collision,” said Sgt Prendergast.

Sgt Prendergast agreed with coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty that the cyclist should have stopped at the junction at which there was a stop sign.

“These professional cyclists seem to put their heads down and just go for it. I believe he wasn’t aware of the junction and was cycling straight on,” said Sgt Prendergast.

Mr Thackaberry was not wearing a cycling helmet.

Micheál Thackaberry, who was giving his sister a lift to work, said his father looked like he was going to stop.

“As I approached the crossroads I could see him cycle to the left... I started to break then, and he swerved out to the right. It happened so fast,” he said.

Another motorist who witnessed the incident, Damien Forristal, said it appeared that Mr Emmanuel Thackaberry couldn’t stop in time because he was a bit “wobbly” on the bike.

A jury returned a verdict of accidental death and recommended the cutting of the hedgerow.