The death of a 68-year-old woman in a single-vehicle road accident in the centre of Ratoath last Summer was the subject of an inquest conducted at Trim Courthouse by Coroner for Co Meath Nathaniel Lacy. Ms Patricia Reilly, Candle Hill, Oberstown, Tara died in the incident on 10th June 2024.
Garda Owen McHugh, Dunshaughlin Garda Station told the inquest that on the date in question at 12.10am he was on patrol with Garda Moroney when they got a call on the radio about a serious single-vehicle accident in the Main Street, Ratoath. They went to the scene to assist Ashbourne Gardai who were already there. He said he found a black Volkswagen Golf on its side in the middle of the road. A female who was there was unresponsive. Paramedic Liam Perry was there and attempts were made to resuscitate Ms Reilly. However, she was pronounced deceased at 1.30am. Ms Reilly’s body was later identified by her husband Bernard.
Garda John Walsh, Forensic Collision Investigator said the collision occurred when the car collided with a lamppost and stone wall after leaving the carriageway. He found a “strike” on a kerb on the right hand side of the road and it finished with pieces of masonry beyond the area of impact, the lamppost and the wall. The physical evidence comprised of a fresh kerb strike and pieces of broken
wheel alloy at the beginning of the straight section before going down to the Main Street. Further on there as a fresh kerb strike on the right hand side of the road. There was fresh damage to a wall and a wrought iron fence. There were pieces of masonry near the grotto. The car itself was badly damaged.
The Garda said that the road there had the appearance of a chicane. The first “strike” came when it appeared the car had failed to take the chicane. In a statement read to the inquest by the coroner, Bernard Reilly said that that day had been a very normal one for Patricia. She had gone shopping and then was preparing to meet friends in the Sibin Restaurant in Dunshaughlin later in the day. He said that his wife had been diagnosed with a heart problem in 2023.
Professor Muna Sabah who carried out a post mortem in the deceased said that there was evidence of coronary heart disease. She also had high blood pressure, hypertension. She had suffered an aneurysm but she was unable to say whether this occurred before the accident or on the impact.
The coroner returned a verdict that death was due to natural causes and he and Inspector Alan Roughneen extended their sympathy to the family of the deceased.
