A CLARE man clinging to a bridge lost his grip as he reached for the helping hand of a stranger, an inquest into his death heard yesterday.
Brecan Mooney (31), originally from Carron but living at Monastery Hill in Cork city, was swept away by a surging river Lee, the night devastating floods hit the city in November last year.
His father Brian Mooney thanked teams of volunteers that searched for 21 days for his son, whose remains were never recovered. Giving evidence at Cork City Coroner’s Court, Kevin Ryan said he and Brecan Mooney had started their night out at 7.30pm on November 18th to watch Ireland take on France in a rugby game. They parted ways at a crowded late bar.
Shortly after 2.30am on November 19th, Timothy O’Leary spotted Brecan Mooney clinging to the Christy Ring bridge. He said Mr Mooney seemed calm and when asked if he was okay, replied that he was.
“I asked him are you sure? And he replied ‘yeah actually, I might need a hand’,” Mr O’Leary said.
He leaned over the bridge and reached out for Mr Mooney, who swung his left hand up to catch hold, but missed and dropped into the fast flowing waters below.
The inquest was held following a request to the Minister for Justice by coroner Dr Myra Cullinane because of “unusual circumstances” as the remains were never found.
The coroner made a finding of accidental death due to drowning.