Mayo Coroner takes Mayo County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to task over lethal stretch of road

Opening an inquest into the tragic deaths of Aisling Moore and her eight-year-old daughter, Abbigael Tournié Moore, Mayo County coroner Patrick O’Connor criticised the stretch of road in which the two lost their lives in a road traffic accident July 2024.

The Irish Times reports that Mr. O’Connor criticised the section of the N24 at Callow on which the mother and daughter as “not fit for modern traffic” and said, “The local authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) will have to do something about the stretch of road.”

The opening hearing of the inquest into this tragedy is illustrative of how many inquests are held in Ireland. A brief opening hearing is often held for the purposes of issuing a death certificate, and usually involves the presentation of evidence by the attending pathologist into the medical cause of death. A basic overview of the surrounding circumstances is usually provided by a representative of the Gardai (a Garda member acting as “court reporter”). The coroner explains to the attending family members how he or she intends to conduct the inquest, and the hearing is often adjourned to a later date to allow a full inquiry.

While not all inquests are held in the weeks following an unexpected death, coroners often allow a preliminary hearing to dispose of limited issues, such as the issue of a death certificate to allow for estate administration or speak to a witness who may be about to leave the country.

As is the case here, it is not uncommon for the coroner to make some remark about the circumstances of the death and will often make preliminary recommendations.

At La Touche Training, we equip professionals with the knowledge to navigate these sensitive processes.
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