An inquest in Co Donegal today returned a verdict of death in accordance with injuries sustained as a result of a road traffic accident in the case of a mother and daughter, Martina and Louise McLernon, who were killed in Mín A Cuing, Gweedore, in May 2008.
Coroner Seán Cannon said in his years of inquest hearings, he had never come across such horrific injuries sustained by people in a road accident and said it was a tragic and shocking event.
Martina, 45, and her daughter Louise, 15, from Toome in Co Antrim were walking on the hard shoulder, near their Gweedore holiday home on the N56, at 8.30pm on 24 May 2008 when they were killed instantly.
Evidence was heard that a Toyota Carina, driven by Shaun Goddrick of Dunlewey, Gweedore, was travelling in the direction of Dunlewey when a woman travelling in the opposite direction observed it bouncing on the road, swaying over and back at a high speed. Road conditions were dry at the time.
The Carina clipped the side of her car, and swerved sideways into the pedestrians before going off the road.
The pathologist gave evidence of extensive injuries suffered by both women. He said one body had been found in a ditch and the other on top of an embankment, near a fence.
The gardaí could not establish the identity of the deceased until Mrs McLernon's young son rang her mobile phone, which was found at the scene.
Martin McLernon recalled how he had last seen his wife and daughter at 11am that morning before they set off for Donegal. When they did not return from their walk, he became worried and drove until he came across the scene of the accident. He identified both bodies at the scene.
A forensic collision investigator gave evidence that it was clear the car was out of control after hitting the other vehicle, and was travelling over the 100km an hour speed limit.
The women were completely without fault at the time of the crash, it was said. Both the gardaí and the coroner extended their sympathies to the family of the deceased.
