A Derry man who blamed a woman for causing an accident was forced to withdraw the allegation at the inquest into her death.
Andrew Cole, Drummond Park, Hazelbank, Derry, was giving evidence at the inquest into the death of Donegal woman Margaret Matthewson at yesterday's sitting of Letterkenny Coroner's Court.
Ms Matthewson (37) lost her life on May 10th, 2001, when the lorry Cole was driving veered on to the wrong side of the road and knocked her down. She died at the scene. The accident happened at Tullyowen, St Johnston, while Ms Matthewson was out walking with her two daughters as they pushed two infant relatives in buggies.
Cole was jailed for 18 months for causing death by dangerous driving at the May sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court.
The coroner's court heard evidence from Ms Matthewson's daughters, Jennifer (now 18) and Anne (now 16), that they were walking on the correct side of the road when their mother was knocked down. In his deposition, which he gave to gardaí after the accident, Cole claimed Ms Matthewson and one of the children "ran on to the middle of the road".
Cole's statement said that the children were walking two abreast and one of them ran on to the middle of the road and that Ms Matthewson followed her out. Garda evidence, and that of Ms Matthewson's two daughters, did not concur with Cole's version of events.
Solicitor for the Matthewson family Niall Sheridan told Cole his claim had caused "severe distress" to them and asked him if he wanted to change his statement.
After a moment's silence, Cole replied that he pleaded guilty to all charges at the Circuit Court.
While accepting this, Mr Sheridan again told Cole of the difficulties his claim had caused the Matthewson family adding: "I'm giving you this opportunity to change that ."
Cole replied that the Matthewsons "probably" did not run out on to the road. After further pleas from Mr Sheridan to change his statement, Cole said he lost control of the lorry after someone had "stepped out" on to the road.
Mr Sheridan then asked Cole: "Are you saying that the evidence of the gardaí and that of Ms Matthewson's two daughters is wrong? This allegation that the accident was caused when Margaret ran out to the middle of the road, the family want that withdrawn immediately." Following Mr Sheridan's plea, Cole agreed to alter his statement.
The jury unanimously agreed with the pathologist's finding that Ms Matthewson's death was the result of multiple injuries consistent with a road traffic accident.