Family fear Castlebar tragedy will occur again without safety measures

The sister of a man who fell into a river in Castlebar told an inquest last week that she has appealed to Mayo County Council to improve the safety barriers in the area. 

The inquest into the death of popular Castlebar barber Tony Fallon heard that he drowned while walking home from the pub last July. Coroner Patrick O'Connor issued a call for improved safety measures at the Castlebar River in the town centre, which was the site of two fatal accidents within six months earlier this year.

Mr Fallon, aged 55, of Fr Meehan Place, Castlebar, died when he accidentally fell into the river while walking home from the pub. The single man was last seen alive by a friend with whom he had been socialising in a pub on Rush Street.

Eugene Flynn said Mr Fallon had been in good form when he met him on July 8. They had about four pints together and Mr Fallon left the pub at about 12.30am. Mr Fallon’s phone was last used at 1.30am and he was captured on CCTV around this time. His sister Teresa said the family was perplexed by where he had been during that hour, which is unaccounted for by eyewitnesses, CCTV or mobile phone records.

Ms Fallon reported her brother missing at 12 noon on July 11 - three days after he was last seen by Eugene Flynn - and his body was removed from the Castlebar River by a local search and rescue team later that day.

At an preliminary hearing in September, consultant pathologist Dr Fedal Bennani, who carried out a post-mortem at Mayo University Hospital, gave a medical cause of death of asphyxia due to drowning. He stated there was no indication of any foul play. Dr Bennani could not give a precise time of death but said it could have been July 9 or 10. 

Mr Fallon's family said they have complained to the local authority about the lack of safety barriers at the riverbank.

“I spoke to the council, and they said they are waiting on funding,” Teresa Fallon told the inquest. “I said: 'Will it have to take another accident?'"

Ms Fallon said the family is very keen to see improved fencing around the river so that another tragedy does not occur, especially as children play in the area. She said the council had told her it is awaiting the results of a survey on the riverbank.

Coroner Patrick O’Connor endorsed the family’s campaign for the introduction of safety measures at the Castlebar River.

“Something needs to be done. Hopefully, lessons will be learned, and an investigation and a full survey will take place into that area,” he said. “Waiting on funding is often given as an excuse but this is urgent, and it needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later.”

Mr O'Connor sympathised with the Fallon family on the loss of Tony, who worked in Ger Staunton's Barbers in Castlebar.

“Tony was a well-known character, appreciated and loved, and a well-regarded barber who will be greatly missed by everyone,” he added.

Sgt Fiona Farrell extended sympathy on behalf of An Garda Síochána.