AN Inquest into the death of a St Johnston grandmother who died after being struck by a lorry was opened and adjourned today in Letterkenny Courthouse.
Patricia McBrearty (81), of Church Street, St Johnston, died after being hit by the vehicle just yards from her home on August 30 last year.
Opening the inquest into the death of the mother-of-three today, Coroner Dr Denis McCauley asked Inspector Sean McDaid if he had any request to make.
Inspector McDaid told the inquest he would like to request an adjournment under Section 25 (2) of the Coroners Act 1962 as the case is a criminal matter before the courts.
Dr McCauley agreed to the request, explaining that to open an inquest and hear full evidence could compromise the criminal investigation.
However, Dr McCauley said that he would hear some very limited medical evidence to allow for the issuing of a coroner’s cert in the interim so a death certificate can be issued to the family.
Inspector McDaid read evidence on behalf of Garda Sean Rogers into the inquest. It heard how he was on duty on the day in question when he was called to an incident on Church Lane, St Johnston. When he arrived at the scene, he found a deceased female, whom he learned was Patricia McBrearty.
Evidence was also heard from Mrs McBrearty’s son, Brian, of formally identifying the body of his mother.
Dr McCauley said that due to the constraints of the criminal investigation he had consulted with Dr Gerard O’Dowd, histopathologist at Letterkenny University Hospital.
“Having looked at the postmortem finding, it is my view that Patricia died of multiple injuries,” said Dr McCauley.
He adjourned the inquest into the death of Mrs McBrearty to await the outcome of the criminal investigation.
Addressing Mrs McBrearty’s family, Dr McCauley said: “Despite the constrained nature of the inquest today, I would still very much like to extend my condolences to you all.”
Inspector Grant extended his deepest sympathies to Mrs McBrearty’s family on behalf of An Garda Siochána.
