Jury recommends review of garda safety procedures

A majority verdict of death by misadventure has been returned by the jury in the inquest into the death of 74-year-old Mary Seavers…

A majority verdict of death by misadventure has been returned by the jury in the inquest into the death of 74-year-old Mary Seavers who was struck by a garda car in Dublin last year.

In December, the Director of Public Prosecutions decided no criminal proceedings would be brought in relation to the death of Mrs Seavers, but a number of recommendations were today made by the jury.

It instructed that the  legal minimum standards for tyres on garda cars should be reviewed, that regular instrumental checks on tyres of emergency vehicles should be carried out and recommended a review of garda emergency call-out procedures.

The jury also suggested extra road signs for the road bend on Clonskeagh Road where Mrs Seavers was struck while standing at a bus shelter on May 22nd, 2005.

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Dublin City Coroner Brian Farrell said he would write to inform relevant authorities of the recommendation.

Gda Niamh Sherry, who was driving the car when it mounted the kerb and struck Mrs Seavers always maintained she was driving around the bend at a safe speed.

After the inquest, David Seavers, a son of the pensioner, highlighted the evidence of Sgt Colm Finn, a forensic collision investigator, who said the car would have had to have been travelling above the safe speed for the bend, which was 70kmph, to lose control.

Mr Seavers said: "It is a personal tragedy first and foremost, very traumatic, a very very horrible way for anybody to pass away, but we recognise the public interest too and we hope the death wasn't in vain. And that something good will come out of some of the recommendations and findings in court."

Mr Seavers, who sat in court beside his three brothers, said: "Having listened to the evidence for two and a half days and having had the opportunity to look at those depositions we are at a loss to understand why the DPP could not bring a matter in this case."