Grandfather found injured had just commemorated death of his grandson

An inquest into the death of a 79-year-old Co Meath man in 2023 has been told that he was found injured beside his crashed car outside his home having just arrived home following a commemoration for his late grandson. Samuel Reilly of Moynalty, Kells died just after Christmas two years ago. Detective Garda Robert Smith, Kells District Detective Unit, gave evidence that on 28 th December 2023 at approximately 5.45pm himself and Garda Troy Egan attended an ambulance call at Cornaville, Moynalty, Kells where paramedics were performing Cpr on a male whom they believed had been involved in a road traffic accident.

Mr Reilly was unresponsive. He was found out of his car which had appeared to have rolled into a bush in front of his house. The detective said he spoke to Mr Reilly’s son Patrick who said he returned home to find his father out of the car, slumped over and lying on the ground at the driver’s side door. He was semi-conscious but then lost all movement.

Patrick continued Cpr until first responder paramedics arrived. He said that his father had been in the pub earlier and left to go home. Advanced paramedic pronounced death at 5.32pm. Patrick Reilly identified his father’s remains to him, he said, adding that he had accompanied the deceased’s remains to the mortuary at Navan hospital.

The Garda said in reply to coroner Nathaniel Lacy that there was nothing suspicious about Mr Reilly’s death. Patrick Reilly’s statement identifying his father to Gardai was read into the record. Mr Reilly said that earlier on the family had been at a gathering following a commemoration for Mr Reilly’s grandson who had predeceased him. Mr Reilly also said that is father was an active man.

Consultant pathologist Professor Muna Sabah who carried out a post mortem in the aftermath of Mr Reilly’s death outlined injuries Mr Reilly had suffered. She said she found that Mr Reilly’s heart condition was normal, however it was larger than normal, having been enlarged and dilated. There was no evidence of heart attack. She said there was a dislocation of the joint which connects the skull to the spine. The pathologist said the main injury was the dislocation and this had resulted from the impact of the crash.

The coroner returned a verdict that death was due to dislocation of the atlanto-occipital joint as a result of a road traffic accident. Mr Lacy and Garda Inspector Alan Roughneen extended their condolences to the family of the deceased, also including Mr Reilly’s grandson.