Dad of crash victim urges driver 'to not be consumed by guilt'

A mother and daughter were tragically killed when their car was in collision with a lorry on the N26 between Foxford and Swinford, an inquest has heard.

The inquest into the deaths of Aisling Moore and her daughter Abbigael Moore-Tournié, of 11 Cois Coille, Kilkelly Road, Swinford, was held at Ballina Courthouse last Thursday where coroner Dr Eleanor Fitzgerald returned verdicts of accidental death.

Ms Moore, aged 46, was driving a Toyota Vitz at Lismoran, Callow, at 5.30pm on July 2, 2024, when she was involved in a collision with a Scania articulated lorry, driven by Martin Crean, of Shanaghy, Ballina.

The inquest heard that Ms Moore’s car failed to take a bend while travelling towards Swinford and veered towards the Scania which was travelling in the opposite direction. Mr Crean braked to avoid a collision but the lorry, which was towing a trailer, jackknifed towards Ms Moore’s car, causing extensive damage and resulting in the deaths of mother and daughter.

Johnny Burke, accommodation manager at the Ocean Sands Hotel in Enniscrone, told the inquest that he was likely the last person to speak to Ms Moore. Mr Burke said she and her daughter had stayed at the hotel from Sunday, June 30 until July 2 and Aisling had told him she was considering staying an additional night, until July 3, but had to return to Swinford for an appointment. However, she made a booking for later in the summer.

Michelle Melvin told the inquest she left work in Swinford on the day of the accident and was driving towards Foxford behind the Scania lorry, which was about 200m ahead of her. Both vehicles were travelling at a speed of around 80km per hour when she observed the lorry jackknifing suddenly. Ms Melvin said she stopped at the roadside and phoned the emergency services. She spoke with the lorry driver who said the other driver came around the corner on the wrong side of the road.

PJ Wall, maintenance worker at the Ocean Sands Hotel, told the inquest he had been driving behind Ms Moore’s car towards Swinford. He said the car approached a left-hand bend but never took the bend, instead veering on the other side of the road. Mr Wall said she had tried to correct her position on the road but it was too late as “the lorry was on top of her". He observed the lorry pushing the vehicle along the road and towards a ditch as it jackknifed.

Mr Crean, who works for West Coast Express hauliers, operating out of Enniscrone, said he had commenced work at 9am and made deliveries in Kiltimagh, Claremorris and Ballyhaunis. He was returning to the yard in Enniscrone via Swinford when the incident occurred.

He said the weather was dull and the road was dry when he went around the first of two bends. As he went around the second turn, driving at about 80kmh, a car came from the other direction at speed onto his side of the road. The vehicle tried to get onto the correct side of the road but it was too late and it collided with the front centre of the lorry. Mr Crean was brought to hospital via ambulance with pains in his neck, shoulders and chest.

Paramedic Adrian Finnegan told the inquest that Aisling and Abbigael were both pronounced dead at 6.08pm.

A full investigation was carried out by An Garda Síochána and both the Scania and Toyota were found to be in perfect working condition at the time of the collision.

Gda John Naughton said the collision occurred on Ms Moore’s side of the road, meaning she had managed to make it back onto the correct side of the road. However, because of having to brake hard, the lorry jackknifed and went into the path of her vehicle. Mr Crean was tested for drugs and alcohol after the accident and was negative for both.

Consultant pathologist Dr Tamas Nemeth said postmortem results showed that Ms Moore died from extensive fatal injuries including multiple fractures sustained in the road traffic accident while her daughter died as a result of extensive injuries.

Dr Fitzgerald recorded a verdict of an accidental death for both mother and daughter and expressed her sympathy to their families. She said nobody will ever know why Ms Moore’s car veered onto the incorrect side of the road and she hoped her family would find comfort in knowing that their loved ones did not suffer as death would have been almost instant.

She said her thoughts were also with Mr Crean for the trauma he suffered and she read a letter from Abbigael’s father Arnaud Tournié, who lives in France and who wrote to Mr Crean “with the full weight of a father’s sorrow, but also with a sincere desire to offer you some comfort". 

“No words can express the depth of my grief. Yet, despite this immense pain, I want you to know that I do not hold you responsible for this tragedy,” he said. “I understand how deeply such an event can mark the life of someone who, through no fault of their own, becomes part of it. That is why I want to extend my heartfelt support to you. I know you must carry this image with you every day and that it cannot be easy for you or your loved ones.

“I do not want you to be consumed by guilt because this accident was neither the result of negligence nor of any wrongdoing on your part.” 

“Please receive these words as a gesture of compassion, of humanity, and I hope, as a small measure of solace.” 

Sgt Sean McHale offered his sincere condolences to the Moore and Tournié families and commended members of the public and emergency services for their help following the accident.