A five-year-old boy died near Kenmare, Co Kerry, last year after being dragged across rugged terrain by a donkey, an inquest into his death heard yesterday.
Coroner Terence Casey said he would not read out the full report of the pathologist into the child's extensive injuries or call her to give evidence, because the matter was "hard enough" for the family. He said it had been the saddest case he had come across in his time (13 years) as deputy coroner and coroner.
Finbarr O'Sullivan, Fehanaugh, Lauragh, Kenmare, was playing with his seven-year-old sister Sharon on October 8th, 2004, his mother Rosarie O'Sullivan said in her deposition to the inquest in Killarney, read by Supt Michael Maher.
She heard Sharon "shouting and roaring" and saying Finbarr was being dragged by the donkey. She ran to the field and saw him on the ground. She did not know whether he was dead or alive. Her husband arrived and picked him up.
Sharon O'Sullivan's deposition was also read by Supt Maher. She was playing with her brother who had tied a rope to the donkey and to his hand. She saw the donkey run away with Finbarr and she called her mother.
Garda Aoife O'Sullivan said she arrived at 6.10pm. Mrs O'Sullivan identified Finbarr and a doctor pronounced him dead at the scene. He had severe wounds and bruising to his head and face.
Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster found that Finbarr died from cerebral trauma, brain swelling and contusions. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.