Dublin man died after Cyprus motorbike crash

A Dublin man died from multiple injuries three weeks after a motorbike crash while on holiday in Cyprus, an inquest heard today.

Gerard Hugh Donlon was at the beach resort of Ayia Napa with three friends when the accident happened.

One of the friends, Paul O’Reilly, was killed in the accident after the Honda motorbike they were on clipped a curb, veered off the road and struck a tree.

No other vehicle was involved.

The inquest was told that the four friends, Mr Donlon, Mr O’Reilly, Stephen O’Neill and Brian McLoughlin, had hired the motorcycles at the beginning of their holiday.

Dublin Coroners’ Court heard that on the night before the accident the four had been out partying.

Mr Donlon and Mr O’Reilly had left the nightclub early and went out on a rental motorbike without telling the other pair.

At around 6am on June 30 the pair were driving by a hotel on the outskirts of the town where the crash occurred.

An English tourist who was passing by raised the alarm after finding the two men lying on top of one another by a tree.

Cypriot police reports showed that the motorbike had skidded for some 20 metres before it struck a palm tree, killing Mr O’Reilly and leaving Mr Donlon with severe head and chest injuries and broken limbs.

Reports also showed the bike was in full working order.

Coroner Dr Brian Farrell told the inquest Mr Donlon was transferred from hospitals three times. He added that Mr Donlon was returned to Ireland on July 20, almost three weeks after the accident.

He died two days later of multiple injuries.

The inquest jury returned a verdict of accidental death and no other findings were recorded.

“I am so sorry this has been such a devastating tragedy for you both and for the family,” Dr Farrell told Mr and Mrs Donlon.

Dr Farrell added he would like to extend his sympathies to the entire family.

“We do, all of us at the court, want to empathise with you all in your grief and I hope that you have found the strength to come to terms with this.”

A post-mortem examination carried out at St James’s Hospital in Dublin found Donlon, 20, from Santry had died due to pneumonia brought on by the severe and multiple injuries he suffered in the crash.

After the inquest family members refused to comment saying it was a private family affair.

During the hearing, Mr Donlon Senior told the inquest his son’s death was a tragedy.