Inquest into death of woman run over on Christmas Eve

A verdict of accidental death was recorded in the case of a woman who died after being run over near her home on Christmas Eve.

Margaret Brennan (55), a mother of three from Curry, Ballymote, Co Sligo, died on Christmas Day in Beaumont Hospital from severe head injuries sustained when she was struck by a passing motorist. The collision occurred between Curry and Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, on the main N17 road at about 10.40am on Christmas Eve, 2005.

The driver, Evelyn McGinley, who lives in Swinford, Co Mayo, was on her way home to Donegal for Christmas and had picked her sister up from the bus station at Knock.

Ms McGinley said she was driving at about 50km/h when she spotted Ms Brennan near the centre of the road.

She could not recall how far away she had been when she first spotted Ms Brennan, but there was nothing she could do as it was a narrow road and she had no time or space to swerve.

"It is something that I have to live with and it's something they have to live with. My heart goes out to them," she told the Dublin City Coroner's Court.

Damien Tansey, the solicitor for the Brennan family, said they bore no ill-will towards Ms McGinley and acknowledged that she too had suffered as a result of the incident.

There was so many cars on the road that accidents were bound to occur from time to time, he added.

Dublin City Coroner Dr Brian Farrell extended his sympathy to the Brennan family and said the only verdict that was appropriate in the circumstances was that of accidental death.