The necessity of wearing seatbelts was stressed by a coroner yesterday at inquests into the deaths of two Czech joinery workers killed instantly after their car hit a tree near Charlestown, Co Mayo, early on Sunday morning.
The hearings into the deaths of driver Pietr Valassek (44) and Filip Maracek (31) were conducted in Swinford by coroner for east Mayo, Pat O'Connor. Mr O'Connor arranged that the inquests be held without delay to facilitate the removal of the bodies to the Czech Republic for burial.
A prayer service for the dead men was held in St James's Church, Charlestown, last evening.
Both men, who had been working at the TJ Grady Windows and Doors plant, Brackloon, Charlestown, were killed instantly when their Czech- registered car struck a tree at Laveymore, Charlestown, shortly after 1.30am last Sunday. The crash occurred on what gardaí described as "a gradual right-hand bend" and there were no brake marks visible afterwards.
Garda Michael O'Brien said he went to the scene with Garda Gerald Connor after receiving a call that a tree had been knocked down.
At the scene he saw a branch halfway across the road.
Embedded in the trunk was a red car containing two men. Garda O'Brien checked but got no signs of life.
He said the car had hit a tree, which had pushed the engine grille and bonnet back under the dash and the dash had been lifted up and in towards the two men. The front seatbelts were not being used and were intact.
The inquest jury returned verdicts of accidental death on both men.
The jury added a rider that it would like to see seatbelts worn at all times in vehicles.
Describing the accident as a double tragedy, Mr O'Connor said it was clear from the evidence that both victims had not been wearing seatbelts.