Bus crash death inquest recommends junction improvements

Safety improvements have been recommended for Dublin’s busiest junction where an English tourist was fatally injured by a bus, an inquest heard.

Maree Buckland died after she was struck by a double-decker bus on the capital’s O’Connell Street near the Spire.

The 60-year-old suffered severe head injuries from the collision on September 15, 2005 and remained in a coma for eight days at St James’ Hospital, Dublin. She died on September 22 and was suffering from secondary cancer at the time.

As she lay critically injured on the road, her handbag, containing €1000 in cash, a mobile phone and store and bank cards was snatched.

Mrs Buckland’s friend, Jagdish Mangat, was also hit by the 98 space Dublin Bus, but recovered from her injuries.

Crying while giving evidence at Dublin City Coroners Court, Ms Mangat said she remembered little about the accident.

“We were talking together as usual,” she said.

“All I remember is following other people. Other pedestrians were in front of us. I pointed out the airport bus on the other side. After that I remember waking up in casualty.”

Dublin City Coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, heard concerns over the new plaza in the capital which does not have clear road markings, clear signage or drop curbing to warn pedestrians they’re entering a road.

Recording a verdict of accidental death a jury in the court recommended the crossing be re-evaluated.

They asked for a letter to be written to Dublin City Council proposing an improvement be brought, including sign posting approaching the crossing, clear road markings and any other additions that will make the junction more apparent to pedestrians.

Bus driver, John Loughrey, told the hearing he was travelling at around 20mph and had a green light when he approached the junction.

He recalls seeing groups of people waiting on both sides of the traffic lights when two women stepped from the crowd.

“When I saw the ladies step out, they were facing each other and talking to each other and they didn’t even notice they had walked out on the road”, he said.

Mr Loughrey hit the break and horn, skidding six to seven feet before hitting Mrs Buckland head on.

He said it was common for people at that junction to cross the road regardless of having a red light.

One witness claimed he saw potential disasters happen every day on the junction.

Karl Henry, a civil servant who works on O’Connell Street said: “I consider it to be a dangerous junction. I’m amazed that it hasn’t happened more often.”

Mr Henry, who crosses the road up to four times a day, claimed the length in time the pedestrian lights stay green was around six seconds.

“Bearing in mind the volume of pedestrian traffic crossing there, it seems to me to be ridiculous. It seems a very small amount of time.”

An inspection of the conditions and vehicle revealed the road was wet and the brake efficiency on the bus was 3% lower than required by the Department of Transport, but was not to blame for the accident.

Originally from County Sligo, Mrs Buckland and her husband, Colin, had recently bought a second home in County Mayo.

The couple, who were married for 36 years lived at The Staithe, Austrey, Atherstone, in Warwickshire, England.

Mrs Buckland and her friend of 26 years were staying in Mayo and visiting Dublin for the day when they were hit by the bus.

Offering his sympathies to Mrs Buckland’s family and Mr Loughrey, Dr Farrell said he was speaking on behalf of everyone in Dublin when he deplored the action of the thief who snatched her bag.

The barrister for the family, Karl Finnegan, thanked the gardaí, businesses along O’Connell Street, taxi drivers in the city and the people of Dublin for the support given to Mrs Bckland’s family following her death.

In February drug user, Jonathan Brophy, 24, originally from Hardwicke Street, Dublin, was jailed for 10 months for stealing Mrs Buckland’s bag.

He was tracked down by gardaí after being recognised on CCTV.