Mother's seven-year wait for inquest into son's hit-and-run death

An adjournment of the inquest on the basis that a file on the case is with the DPP was sought

Vera Donovan, right, mother of the late Stephen Lynch, with family friend Celine O’Brien leaving Dublin District Coroner’s Court on Tuesday after the opening of the inquest into the death of Mr Lynch, 31, who was killed in a hit-and-run incident in Brookview Close, Tallaght, on April 13, 2017. Picture: Colin Keegan/Collins

The mother of a Dublin man killed in a hit-and-run incident in Tallaght seven years ago has expressed upset and disappointment at ongoing delays in holding an inquest into his death.

Stephen Lynch, 31, suffered fatal injuries after being struck by a vehicle at Brookview Close, Tallaght, on April 13, 2017.

Gardaí launched a murder investigation after forming the view that the victim was deliberately run over by the driver of a Ford Focus which was later found abandoned a short distance away.

Gardaí believe Mr Lynch — a father of three from the Glenshane estate in Tallaght — became involved in an altercation with the occupants of the vehicle before the fatal incident after he had earlier asked the driver of the car to slow down because of children playing in the area.

At a brief hearing at Dublin District Coroner’s Court on Tuesday, the coroner, Cróna Gallagher, noted that the case had already come before her court on numerous occasions over the past seven years. 

Dr Gallagher acknowledged that gardaí were involved in “a complex investigation” into Mr Lynch’s death.

Application for adjournment

Detective Inspector Jason Miley applied to the coroner for an adjournment of the inquest on the basis that a file on the case is with the DPP.

Det Insp Miley said that a review of the original Garda investigation into Mr Lynch’s death had resulted in a supplementary file being forwarded to the DPP and a direction was awaited on the matter.

“It is still under consideration,” said Det Insp Miley.

The witness said he had contacted the DPP on numerous occasions but confirmed that no charges had been brought in the case to date.

Det Insp Miley said he anticipated he would get a decision from the DPP in the near future if a short adjournment was granted.

A solicitor for Mr Lynch’s family, Brian Doyle, said the victim’s mother, Vera Donovan, was disappointed at the delay in holding the inquest into her son’s death.

“Nothing has been advanced for seven years,” said Mr Doyle.

He also said that there had been “two or three false starts” in the case which had left Ms Donovan “very upset and very disappointed”.

In reply, Dr Gallagher said that she was obliged to adjourn an inquest under legislation if informed by gardaí that there were outstanding matters in relation to their investigation into a death.

“My hands are tied. I have no choice,” said the coroner. “I can’t go forward while a file rests with the DPP.”

Dr Gallagher said she had no discretion about when the inquest could be held until there was an outcome to the process involving the DPP.

Mr Doyle also sought clarification over why Mr Lynch’s death certificate only listed “a head injury” due to a road traffic collision as the cause of death.

The coroner said a death certificate usually only lists the medical cause of death and does not reflect all the circumstances of how someone died.

Dr Gallagher adjourned the inquest until a date to be fixed in early July on the basis that a decision by the DPP might be available by then.

'Extremely difficult'

She acknowledged that Ms Donovan had to wait a very long time for progress in the case and that it had been “extremely difficult” for her and her family.

On her son's anniversary last month, Ms Donovan issued a fresh appeal for people with information about his death to come forward to gardaí.

“Just give us some kind of closure — a bit of peace. I know nothing is ever going to bring Stephen back,” she said.