A verdict of accidental death has been returned at the inquest into the death of a 41-year-old woman with an intellectual disability, in a road crash outside Killarney in 2020.
41-year-old Sharon Healy from Kiskeam, Co. Cork, died following the two-car collision at Brennan’s Glen on the N22 between Farranfore and Killarney on 8th March 2020.
Ms Healy was a passenger in one car being driven in the correct lane, which was hit at an angle by a second car being driven in the incorrect lane around a bend.
Then-21-year-old student, Maedbh Heaney, was the driver of the second car; she was previously convicted of careless driving causing Sharon Healy’s death at Tralee Circuit Court last year.
A witness driving behind Ms Heaney said near Brennan’s Glen, she noticed Ms Heaney’s small black car completely on the wrong side of the road for about two to three seconds, before going around a bend, still on the wrong side of the road.
Ms Heaney’s car then collided with a Toyota Corolla being driven by Ted Healy, whose wife Peg was in the front passenger seat, while their 41-year-old daughter Sharon Healy sat in the back left passenger seat.
The inquest heard that Ms Heaney’s Mazda collided with the passenger side of the Healy family’s car at an angle, causing the Mazda to lift into the air.
Sharon Healy, who had an intellectual disability, suffered polytrauma, collapsed lungs, and died instantly due to blunt force trauma to her thorax and abdomen, as well as laceration of the heart and substantial laceration to her liver.
The inquest was told that Sharon Healy had been chatting non-stop on the journey prior to the collision, and was thinking about what birthday present she was going to buy in Killarney for her uncle.
Witnesses described the harrowing aftermath of the collision, and several passersby stopped and attempted to help the injured parties.
Ms Heaney, who gave evidence via video link, said she can give no explanation why her car went out of control and went on to the wrong side of the road, and that she does not remember the impact.
Tim Healy told the inquest it was like the other car dropped out of the sky in front of him, and all he remembers is a massive impact.
Peg Healy also gave evidence that she did not see Ms Heaney’s car coming towards them, and due to her injuries she does not remember anything for a week after the crash.
Ms Heaney and her solicitor, Michael O’Brien, both raised the possibility that she either crossed in to the wrong lane after hitting a pothole or in trying to avoid it.
Forensic Collision Investigator, Garda Tomás Barry, said there was no evidence Ms Heaney collided with potholes, which were 60 metres from where the impact happened.
Coroner Aisling Quilter noted Ms Heaney had not mentioned anything about a pothole in her deposition.
She recorded a verdict of accidental death and offered her condolences to the Healy family.
Ms Heaney also apologised to the Healy family.