Inquest accidental death verdict in case of Cork rally driver who died at Killarney Forestry Rally

The late Eoin McCarthy's sister said: 'We hope that Motorsport Ireland finally learns from the mistakes of the past'

The late Eoin McCarthy's parents Nora and Liam McCarthy and his sister Rachel at Cork Courthouse after an earlier hearing of  the inquest into Eoin's death. Picture: Martin Walsh

An inquest into the death of a Cork rally driver recorded a verdict of accidental death, as the family of the deceased pleaded for lessons to be learned from the tragedy.

Eoin McCarthy, 22, from Dunmanway, died during the fourth stage of the Killarney Forestry Rally at Mount Eagle near Castleisland on February 20, 2022.

Mr McCarthy was driving in only his second ever rally, alongside navigator Daniel O’Brien, when their car went off a bridge and ended up on its roof in a stream.

After coroner Philip Comyn delivered a verdict of accidental death, Mr McCarthy’s sister told the Irish Examiner that lessons must be learned.

She said: “The McCarthy family wishes to express our sincere thanks to Daniel O’Brien and all the volunteer marshals and stewards for their efforts to save Eoin.

“We thank all the paramedics, the advanced paramedics, and all of the medical attendants who treated Eoin on the day.

“We remain committed to the sport of rallying, and we hope that Motorsport Ireland finally learns from the mistakes of the past.”

On Friday, Barry Duggan, who acted as Motorsport Ireland steward for the ill-fated rally, told the court that he received no training from Motorsport Ireland on how to deal with major incidents.

He had also not received an event safety plan or supplementary regulations from the organisers.

Eoin McCarthy, 22, from Dunmanway, died during the fourth stage of the Killarney Forestry Rally at Mount Eagle near Castleisland on February 20, 2022.

Mr Duggan told the court that he formulated a list of material witnesses after the accident and that he wished to contact them, but was told that Motorsport Ireland would do this.

Mr Duggan said he had no interaction with Motorsport Ireland’s hierarchy after that point, and was not asked for anything extra in relation to his report on the incident.

He said he has not seen a copy of a Motorsport Ireland investigation, and has not received any post-rally support from the governing body.

Mr Duggan said he had received, via email, a copy of the safety officer’s report in error just last week.

The report made little reference to the accident other than stating that Eoin McCarthy was fatally injured, Mr Duggan said.

Confusion over ambulance and helicopter

The inquest had earlier heard that there was an expectation, in the moments after the crash, that Mr McCarthy would be transferred to hospital by helicopter from a nearby GAA pitch.

He was taken by ambulance to the pitch, but the helicopter subsequently landed at a different location.

Emergency services liaison officer Tom O’Riordan said the confusion surrounding the rendezvous was caused by a breakdown in communication.

Evidence was also heard from Garda Michael Costello and Sergeant Tomás Barry, who said Mr McCarthy’s Honda Civic was in perfect mechanical order and the embankment at the scene of the accident was 2.3m deep.

At the conclusion of the inquest, Sergeant Fergus Tuohy paid tribute to the McCarthy family for advocating for a loving son and brother, saying that Eoin’s voice had been heard.

No concerns about weather on the day

Motorsport Ireland vice president John Naylor had earlier said in evidence that he had no concerns about the weather on the day of the fatal incident.

Witnesses had reported that the forest rally occurred amid heavy wind and a downpour of rain.

Barrister for the McCarthy family, Derek Ryan, had asked Mr Naylor if he had moved a silage bale at the scene of the accident, but Mr Naylor replied that he could not recall moving a bale.

Mr Naylor was also asked if he had interviewed witnesses at the scene, either on the day of the crash or afterwards, but Mr Naylor confirmed he had not done so.

He said that he gathered statements made to other parties, such as the gardaí, but when asked about a Motorsport Ireland document, titled ‘Investigation’, which he had written, he accepted that the word investigation inferred something different from what the document actually was.

There were no Motorsport Ireland officials present when the coroner delivered his verdict of accidental death.

He will issue recommendations next week.