Call to fix ‘notorious stretch of road’

A Mayo coroner has called on Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to urgently address a “notorious stretch of road” near Swinford following a spate of fatal accidents.

Patrick O’Connor made his comments at Swinford Coroner’s Court yesterday during an inquest into the death of Ciarán Keating of Kilsallagh, Westport, who was fatally injured in a two-vehicle road collision on the N5 at Ballymiles, Swinford, on July 15 last.

The 57-year-old had been travelling to Sligo with his wife, Ann Marie, to watch their son play for Cork City in an evening clash with Sligo Rovers.

The well-known publican, who was the older brother of singer Ronan Keating, was pronounced dead a short time after the collision and formally identified by his brother Gerard in the mortuary at Mayo University Hospital (MUH). Mr Keating’s wife, a secondary school teacher, was taken to MUH for treatment and later released.

The male driver and passenger of the other car were also hospitalised following the collision halfway between Swinford and Bohola.

Mr O’Connor said the high rate of collisions and deaths on that particular stretch of the N5 is not just down to driving and insisted the design of the road has had a “significant contribution”.

“There is a 3km stretch between the Charlestown intersection (old road) and Ballymiles and unfortunately over the years there have been over a dozen deaths and dozens of injuries on that road,” Mr O’Connor said.

“During that time, I have said that the TII and other lead agencies involved in the provision of road safety should look at the road and deal with the issues,” he added.

The coroner said he was disappointed that recommendations contained in a 2020 road safety review had not been implemented.

“There is not much point in a coroner having powers if the recommendations are not taken on board,” he said. “I know the gardaí have on previous occasions shared my concerns.”

Consultant pathologist Dr Fadel Bennani, who carried out a postmortem, recorded a verdict of death from multiple injuries, including multiple rib fractures and lacerations of the lungs and liver.

Mr O’Connor said a Garda investigation was ongoing before he told Mr Keating’s son Conall and brother Gary, who were present, that he was adjourning the substantive hearing until December 18.

The coroner and Gda Sgt Denis Egan sympathised with the deceased’s family.