Deaths of mother and her daughters in road accident 'an unspeakable tragedy', says coroner

(Left to right) Una Bowden, Saoirse Bowden and Ciara Bowden died in a collision on the N17 near Claremorris, last March. Photo: Garda Press Office

The deaths of three members of a family — a mother and her two young daughters — in a road accident on the N17 near Claremorris, Co. Mayo, was described as “an unspeakable tragedy” by a coroner on Monday.

Pat O’Connor, Coroner for the District of Mayo, presided over the opening of an inquest into the deaths of Una Bowden (47) and her daughters, Saoirse (10) and Ciara (14).

The Bowdens, who lived near Moycullen, Co Galway, died in a collision on the N17 near Claremorris, last March. Medical evidence was given to a brief hearing on Monday morning about the identities of the deceased and the medical cause of their deaths.

The substantive inquest hearing was adjourned by the coroner pending the outcome of a garda investigation. All three of the accident victims could only be identified from the results of DNA tests.

Consultant pathologist Dr Fadel Bennani testified that the cause of death of all three victims was extensive head and body injuries due to a road traffic accident.

Before adjourning to an unspecified date to allow gardaí continue their investigations into the cause of the accident, the coroner described the triple deaths as “an unspeakable tragedy”.

Mr O’Connor said the tragedy again focused attention on the safety of the N17 in south Mayo, what should be regarded as one of the best roads in the region.

Mr O’Connor said:

It is an unspeakable tragedy for the family and the community to lose three young people in the prime of their lives.

The coroner commended first responders who attended the scene and others who assisted as well as medical and mortuary staff at MUH, including Dr Bennani.

Echoing the coroner’s comments, Sergeant Sean McHale also said it had been a very traumatic experience for those motorists who came on the scene of the accident.

He said that the loss of Saoirse and Ciara was being deeply felt by their school friends in Moycullen.