A jury at an inquest has recommended that the Departments of Environment and Agriculture introduce regulations for the use of quad bikes after the court heard that a 16-year-old girl died following an accident on a defective machine.
Nicola Nolan, Woodville, Leitrim village, was killed when the quad bike she was driving overturned as she took a turn and struck her head on the pavement. She died from severe head injuries at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital two days after the accident on May 24th, 2005, Dublin City Coroner's Court heard yesterday.
Sgt John O'Donnell of Carrick on Shannon Garda station told the inquest that quad bikes could be "very dangerous and very powerful. Many people have been injured or killed on them." Garda Eamon Burke said there were no regulations in the Republic to govern the use of quad bikes.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell will now write to the two Government departments with the jury's recommendation of regulations, compulsory training and licensing for usage of quad bikes.
The inquest heard that the quad bike had defective steering before the fatal accident. Sgt PJ Gallagher, a public service vehicle inspector who test-drove the vehicle, told the court that the bike was "very unstable . . . it had a mind of its own basically" because an incorrect bolt nut had been attached to the wheel, which affected the steering.
Declan Monaghan, a private seller, told the inquest he sold the quad bike to the Nolans after owning it for just a few weeks. He said he had used it "only once" and had not had an accident.
Gardaí investigating the accident sourced the Henson 150 quad bike to William Keys, Tractor, Plant and Machinery dealer, in Dromore, Omagh, Co Tyrone. Six times a year, Mr Keys facilitated quad bike auctions at his premises for Eurocar Auctions, based in Dubai.
The vehicle involved in the accident was sold without its wheels attached to an individual living in Omagh. This man then sold it on to Mr Monaghan with wheels fully attached.
Garda Burke said gardaí contacted Interpol in an attempt to make contact with Eurocar Auctions but they were "very hard to trace. We were unable to establish if the fault was human error or a design fault."
The inquest heard that the quad bike had stickers attached warning that the bike was not suitable for use on a public road; was not suitable for pillion passengers; should not be driven by persons under 16 and drivers should always wear a helmet.
The inquest heard that Ms Nolan was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, which took place on a public road nearby her home, and was carrying a pillion passenger.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.