Inquest questions the future of road races

SAFETY issues surrounding the death of a motorcyclist in a high speed road race crash raise questions as to whether the sport should be banned, Northern Ireland’s senior coroner said yesterday.

But John Leckey said that debate was beyond his remit and suggested concern about course safety could be examined by a public inquiry.

He was commenting during a preliminary hearing ahead of an inquest for Martin Finnegan, 28, who died when he crashed into a fence during an event in Tandragee, Co Armagh three years ago after experiencing a brake failure.

A lawyer for the Finnegan family had urged Mr Leckey to widen the terms of the inquest to investigate whether a lack of run off area or air cushioning safety padding at the corner where the accident happened was responsible for his death.

Andrew Babington argued the court had the power to examine whether any “acts or omissions” other than the break failure played a part.

But Mr Leckey said those matters focused on issues of civil liability and were not for the coroner’s court to probe.

However he acknowledged the lawyer’s point that road races did not have the same safety measures in place as other motor sport venues.

“You’re making the point that a road circuit is a very different creature from a Formula One circuit or short circuits such as Bishopscourt (in Co Down) or those in England and Wales.” He added: “Then questions must be asked should that motorcycle activity take place at all?

“That’s a matter for government to address.”