Report Paul Murphy
An inquest into the tragic death of a young Drogheda man has been told that his mother was on her way in a line of traffic to collect him when he died in a road traffic incident on the N2 in Co Meath. Matthew Liam Brennan (27), Tredagh View, Drogheda died when he was struck by a lorry on the N2 at Crickstown near Ashbourne on 9th February 2024. The inquest into his death was conducted by the Coroner for Meath Nathaniel Lacy at Trim Courthouse.
Sergeant Aisling McLaren told the inquest that on 9 th February 2024 at 21.45 she was told of an incident on the N2. Initial reports said that a male had been involved in a road traffic collision just outside Ashbourne. Updated reports said that a male had been struck by a lorry. Herself and three other Gardai left Ashbourne garda station to investigate. At 22.00 she arrived at Crickstown. Two Gardai were trying to control the volume of traffic building up and dealing with witnesses. Garda Horan advised her that she had been shown the body of a man lying on the roadside. That Garda also told her that she believed the body to be that of Matthew Liam Brennan.
Sergeant McLaren said she was informed that a woman who was sitting in built-up traffic had said she believed that the man was her son. She identified herself as Eithne Brennan and she said that she had been contacted by her son who was looking for a lift home. She said she had left her home in Drogheda and was on her way to The Pillo Hotel to collect her son when she came upon the collision. “Ms Brennan was extremely upset and in a state of shock. She said that she had contacted Matthew’s father Jim who was on his way from Dublin”.
She immediately made arrangements to have Ms Brennan transported to Ashbourne Garda Station. The sergeant said she went back to the station where she met Mr and Ms Brennan and brought them into a private room to explain what had happened. Ar 23.54 Mr Brennan attended the scene of the accident and identified his son to her. At 2.30am the body of Mr Brennan was conveyed to Navan mortuary.
The Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that there should be no prosecution in the case. Consultant pathologist Professor Muna Sabah told the inquest that she found during a post mortem that there were extensive injuries to Mr Brennan. Toxicology tests showed that the deceased had a blood/alcohol reading of 174/200. As a result of her examination she concluded that death was due to cranial and cerebral injuries. She said that death would have occurred instantaneously.
Forensic Collision Scene investigator Garda John Coughlan said there was a straight road at the collision site. He said the truck would be available to be seen by a pedestrian for at least 40 seconds. Mr Brenna had been walking from The Pillo Hotel in a Northwesterly direction along the N2. At the time of the collision the truck was travelling at between 79-80km/ph. Dashcam footage showed the driver trying to veer around the pedestrian in the milliseconds before the collision.
Garda Horan told the inquest that she was approached at the scene by an Aidan Smith who told her that he had seen the male walking on the N2 in the middle of the road and he immediately reported this to Gardai. The Garda said that the truck driver, who was very upset, told her that he was driving along the N2 when he saw a man walking between the yellow line and the middle lane and he as looking at his phone. He said he had immediately swerved right but he heard a bang and immediately began to slow down. He had dialled 999 for an ambulance. He had passed a breath test at the roadside, the Garda said. He also showed clear for drugs. The coroner returned a verdict of misadventure. He and Garda Inspector Alan Roughneed extended their condolences to the family of the deceased.
