City safety audit sought after student’s 30ft fatal plunge
Caolan Mulrooney, 18, from Thornbury Heights, Rochestown, Co Cork, climbed a six-foot high wall at the end of the East View Terrace cul-de-sac, off Quaker Road, around 1.30am on Dec 2 last after a night out with friends.
But his judgment was clouded by alcohol and he didn’t realise there was a 30ft drop on the other side. He fell into a storage yard and died at the scene. His body lay there for four days.
His disappearance triggered one of the largest missing person searches in the city for years.
Warning signs have now been placed on the low side of the wall after a campaign by his parents, Eugene and Margaret. “There is a threat from similar sites around Cork City for young people and the elderly,” Mr Mulrooney said.
“We are asking that the review would look at those dangers to try and prevent a similar tragedy happening to another family, which we wouldn’t wish on anyone.
“And we would also ask that the marina, rivers and parts of the harbour be considered as part of the review. We would like to see the work done soon — and an immediate response.”
But he said the circumstances of his son’s death also raised questions for society.
“Our generation, my generation, has created an environment where young people can’t go out and drink socially. They are drinking too quickly,” he said.
He was speaking after city coroner Dr Myra Cullinane heard details of his son’s final hours.
Det Sgt Shane Bergin said gardaí were alerted to Caolan’s disappearance on Friday, Dec 2, and launched a major investigation. They established he had attended a University College Cork class party at a venue on the Mardyke before heading to Cubin’s nightclub at 12.04am. He met friends Jeff Safarbanidi and Eithne McSweeney inside and was due to meet them afterwards to get a taxi home.
Ms McSweeney left the nightclub with Caolan at 1.01am but had to go back inside to collect her coat. When she returned, Caolan was gone. There was “absolutely nothing” about his behaviour that night to cause her concern, she said.
Det Sgt Bergin said gardaí examined CCTV footage from 115 premises and got 10 confirmed sightings of Caolan. They were able to trace his movements from the nightclub, along Washington St, over South Gate Bridge, in the direction of Crosses Green. He was seen alone on CCTV again on Wandesford Quay, and then jogging up Sharman Crawford St towards St Fin Barre’s Cathedral and Fort St, before he headed back towards Barrack St, where the last confirmed sighting was at 1.19am.
Gardaí are satisfied he wasn’t being chased.
Over the next three days, a huge search was mounted.
But around 9.30am on Dec 6, John Meehan, who owns CB Motorcycles on Blue Anchor Lane, off Douglas Street, found Caolan’s body in a very inaccessible area to rear of his premises.
Assistant state pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said Caolan had suffered severe head injuries consistent with a single impact following a fall from a height.
She said he would have died within minutes.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death and recommended a full survey of similar split-level sites.
