Inishowen’s horror crash - a year on

unkel

A file has now been sent to the DPP (what took so long?) and we can now only wait further to see if a criminal case is brought against the surviving driver...

Gardai in Inishowen are awaiting the decision of the Director of Prosecutions as to their next move following on from the horror crash in Inishowen in which eight people where killed.


The first annisvery of that traumatic occurs this weekend.

Superintendant Kevin English, from Buncrana Gardai Station, told the ‘Journal’ yesterday gardai investigations were complete and a file has now been sent to the DPP.

The two-car collision which is the worst single road accident on record in the history of the state, happened on the main Clonmany to Buncrana road, at 10.40pm on Sunday, July 11, 2010.

The eight friends, who were travelling in the same vehicle, were Mark McLaughlin (21), Fahan, James McEleney (23), of Clonmany, Paul Doherty (19), Ballyliffin, Ciaran Sweeney (19), of Ballyliffin, PJ McLaughlin (21), of Rockstown, Burnfoot, Eamon McDaid (22), of Ballymagan, Buncrana and Damien McLaughlin (21), of Umricam, Buncrana. All were killed instantly.

Hugh Friel, 66, from Dunaff, Urris was driving home from bingo in Buncrana when he was tragically killed. The driver of the Passat, 23 year old Shaun Kelly from Buncrana was the sole survivor of the accident.

Supt English said he did not wish to comment further but confirmed he had been in touch with the victims’ families.

Buncrana PP, Fr John Walsh, said the community is very conscious of the pain felt still felt by the families, particularly the parents,

“When a parent loses a child they will never get rid of that sense of lose and although they may learn to cope they never truly get over it.”

Urris born Fr Michael Canny, Derry diocesan spokesman, who knew one of the victims, Hugh Friel, personally believes the crash will always leave a “gaping wound”

“I pass by the place where the tragic accident took place almost every week when I am going to visit my mother and family in Urris. Every time my thoughts are the same. I can recall clearly the disbelief when first hearing of the news and the feeling of helplessness when visiting the wakes and seeing the reality of eight people,

“Hugh Friel who was known personally to me and seven young men lifeless in their coffins, with all their hopes and dreams for the future wiped out.

Fr Canny said it should not be forgotten that the families are living with the pain each and every day.

“They do not need an anniversary to be reminded of the sadness, pain and loss. For a small community on the Swilly side of Inishowen to lose eight people there will always be a gaping wound that can never be filled. Youth has been lost and can never be restored. At this time the families are very much in our thoughts and prayers”

Article

-Corkie-

I would say the driver has a lot on his mind this weekend thinking about what happened..

Cill Dara Abu

Was the driver drunk?

Mister Jingles

Wasn't this accident the reason why Essential Driver Training (EDT) was introduced ?

MyPeopleDrankTheSoup

the wheels of justice grind slow but the truth will come out in the court case and over time. i think we all have our suspicions about what happened, especially when the car was involved in a minor crash just before the main crash, but better keep the mouth shut.

saddest thing about that story is the 66 year old used to leave the bingo hall later than usual because he was scared of the drunk drivers on the road

CiniO

Who caused that accident?
There was so much about it in media last year, but I can't remember it was ever revealed what was the actual cause of accident?

kirving

As far as I know, he wasn't drunk.

Far far too many people don't understand the importance of seatbelts, they just don't comprehend what actually happens in a crash. 5 of the 8 people in that car should have been wearing them, but of course, we never hear the full details.

As someone suggested on here before, I think that the full details, and reports on fatal/serious accidents should be published. Allowing people to see, in cold hard detail, excatly what caused the crash, would help stop people making stupid decisions.


Edit: The first incident, where the Passat clipped the Megane(IIRC) cause the car to lose control. It was suggested he tried to keep driving, but stopping a car with 8 people on board woulnd't b e easy, or quick. We don't know how the third car reacted to the incident either.

Compton

-Corkie- wrote: »

I would say the driver has a lot on his mind this weekend thinking about what happened..

tbh I don't he will ever forget about something like this. It would be truly impossible to forget. Don't know how life could ever be the same after

Monty.

-Corkie- wrote: »

I would say the driver has a lot on his mind this weekend thinking about what happened..

Pity he didn't bother his arse thinking before the accident.

Cill Dara Abu

I feel for the driver TBH, im sure he did'nt intend on going out that night and causing the deaths of 8 people, we have all done stupid things on the road but this time the chap was unlucky and he will have to live with the consequences for the rest of his life.

OldmanMondeo

Cill Dara Abu wrote: »

I feel for the driver TBH, im sure he did'nt intend on going out that night and causing the deaths of 8 people, we have all done stupid things on the road but this time the chap was unlucky and he will have to live with the consequences for the rest of his life.

Stop talking sense, it will confuse some here.

sean1141

Cill Dara Abu wrote: »

I feel for the driver TBH, im sure he did'nt intend on going out that night and causing the deaths of 8 people, we have all done stupid things on the road but this time the chap was unlucky and he will have to live with the consequences for the rest of his life.

so true. there is a women who lives near me who is always giving out about ''the speed them young fellows do be doing'' but thinks nothing of driving around in her 4x4 after collecting kids from school with a phone stuck to her ear :eek:

SilverBell

Cill Dara Abu wrote: »

I feel for the driver TBH, im sure he did'nt intend on going out that night and causing the deaths of 8 people, we have all done stupid things on the road but this time the chap was unlucky and he will have to live with the consequences for the rest of his life.

was it really down to luck????

What you wrote sounds as if what he was doing was all above board, he just ran into a spot of bad luck.

Mr. Presentable

unkel wrote: »

[A file has now been sent to the DPP (what took so long?) and we can now only wait further to see if a criminal case is brought against the surviving driver...

I was in Inishowen last weekend and asked the same question. The reply? Nobody, not even the families of the victims, has been co-operative with the investigation.

Zubeneschamali

SilverBell wrote: »

was it really down to luck????

No, of course not, it's clearly a case of causing death by dangerous driving.

phog

Cill Dara Abu wrote: »

I feel for the driver TBH, im sure he did'nt intend on going out that night and causing the deaths of 8 people, we have all done stupid things on the road but this time the chap was unlucky and he will have to live with the consequences for the rest of his life.

How many drivers intentionally goes out to cause the death of another road user?

Monty Burnz

Cill Dara Abu wrote: »

I feel for the driver TBH, im sure he did'nt intend on going out that night and causing the deaths of 8 people, we have all done stupid things on the road but this time the chap was unlucky and he will have to live with the consequences for the rest of his life.

I'd rather be alive with a twinge of guilt now and then than be worm food.

Our man in Havana

Not a chance the driver will be charged.

"Ah sure hasn't he been through enough".

Monty Burnz

SilverBell wrote: »

was it really down to luck????

What you wrote sounds as if what he was doing was all above board, he just ran into a spot of bad luck.

At best, he overtook another car at night in a dangerous fashion with 7 passengers aboard who were not wearing seatbelts.

This talk of good and bad luck is a bit nauseating, and making excuses for this type of thing is exactly why it will happen again. And then there'll be more hand-wringing and 'respect for the dead' and all the usual nonsense that covers up the problem and prevents tackling it.

OSI

OSI wrote: »

While I can fully understand the guilt he must feel, I cannot comprehend how anyone felt it was OK to squeeze 8 people into a Passat. I feel uneasy fitting 5 people in a car of that size, and it's designed to do so.

In fairness we all know its wrong but most have done something similar at some point. You are outside the takeaway on a wet saturday night big crowd around and no taxi's and you are driving and have a few friends with no way home or you have no way home and one of your friends is driving. Its so hard to say no to people in these situations.

Minibus taxi's are notorious for over loading in the local towns near me too (three high in every seat, people piled up on the floor etc) but when you have drink on board and want to get home you pile in and the thought of a crash wouldn't even enter your head.

Btw the way I'm not saying its in anyway right but very few people could say they have never been the passenger or driver in an over crowded car.

SilverBell

Monty Burnz wrote: »

At best, he overtook another car at night in a dangerous fashion with 7 passengers aboard who were not wearing seatbelts.

This talk of good and bad luck is a bit nauseating, and making excuses for this type of thing is exactly why it will happen again. And then there'll be more hand-wringing and 'respect for the dead' and all the usual nonsense that covers up the problem and prevents tackling it.

Monty Burnz, Given that yourself and Zubenaschmali have quoted my reply without quoting Cill Dara Abu's "unlucky" comment , I wonder did you both take me up wrong?
I certainly do not think this accident was down to the driver being "unlucky".

Monty Burnz

SilverBell wrote: »

I wonder did you both take me up wrong?
I certainly do not think this accident was down to the driver being "unlucky".

Sorry SilverBell, I wasn't referring to your comment at all, I was just thinking of the stuff that people were saying around the time of the accident. Apologies for the confusion.

-Chris-

This case is still ongoing, and as such speculation as to whether it was dangerous driving causing death, whether the driver was drunk, whether the families are cooperating etc. is based on conjecture.

At the very least, people should be able to post links to reputable sources to support their opinions, but I doubt that's possible at the moment.

Thread closed because it's discussing an ongoing Garda investigation/court case.