Family holiday ended in fatal crash

An eight-year-old girl died in a horrific road accident while on holiday in West Cork last year.

Zoe Scannell, from Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick, “died almost instantly” from her injuries, an inquest heard.

The accident took place at a notoriously dangerous stretch of the N71 at Burgatia, on the east side of Rosscarbery on June 26, 2014.

An inquest into Zoe’s death was opened and adjourned at Bandon District Courthouse yesterday by coroner Frank O’Connell.

The inquest heard that paramedics worked to save Zoe’s life in a field above the crash scene, next to the N71 but she was later pronounced dead by Dr Stephen Cusack. Zoe’s mother, Alisha, was critically injured in the crash. She was airlifted to Cork University Hospital by air ambulance.

Assistant State pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said the cause of death was a complete transection of the aorta, due to a road traffic accident.

“Death would have been absolutely almost instant after that,” Dr Bolster said.

Condolences were offered to Zoe’s parents, Eddie and Alisha, who travelled to Bandon for yesterday’s inquest.

The coroner adjourned the inquest as gardaí are preparing a file in relation to the case for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr O’Connell adjourned the inquest until November 24, as he said: “It is not known yet if there will be a trial.”

At her funeral in Abbeyfeale last July, Zoe was described as “a special, lively engaging, child”, who had “brought life and light to her family”.

Chief celebrant, Fr Joe Foley CC, described her as life as “brief, but beautiful”.

Zoe’s was an only child to her mum Alisha, who spent 12 days recovering in Cork University Hospital following the crash.

The family had been on a holiday at the time.

Locals and politicians have been campaigning for upgrade works to be carried out on the dangerous stretch of roadway between Rosscarbery and Clonakilty, where several accidents have taken place in recent years.