13 year old Jimmy Horgan from Blackrock died after he was hit by a truck on close to the Mercy University Hospital on Prospect Row in the city on the 17th of November 2020.
Cork City Coroner’s Court heard that what happened to the 1st year secondary school student was a “tragic accident” for which there was no one was to blame.
State Pathologist Margot Bolster detailed the “severe” injuries that led to Jimmy’s death and said he would not have suffered during the incident.
A statement from Jimmy’s grandfather Barry Corcoran was read into evidence by Sergeant Fergus Twomey. He said that he had seen the truck swinging out to take the left turn from Dyke Parade to Prospect Row and had shouted to Jimmy to try to alert him to presence of the truck.
The court also heard emotional testimony from Niall Murphy who was driving the truck on the day. Council for the Horgan family, Ernest Cantillon, told him that the family bear him no ill will and know that what happened was an awful accident.
Forensic Collision Investigator Raymond Kelleher said that while the area visible in the trucks close proximity mirror fell short of what is required by law when he examined it, he could not guarantee that the driver would have seen Jimmy as it was not possible to look into all of the mirrors while driving and taking the turn from Dyke Parade to Prospect Row.
The Jury of three men and three women also recommended that the City Council review traffic arrangements in the area and extended their condolences to Jimmy’s family.
Coroner Philip Comyn and Sergeant Twomey also extended their condolences to the Horgan family.
