Biker pals died on M50 after wheels touched
Inquest told men fell under moving truck and suffered horrific injuries
He died doing what he loved. He had a happy time until this... it was all too soon ANN HUDSON BRIAN MCFARLANE’S YESTERDAY
TWO motorcyclists died after their wheels touched in a collision on the M50, an inquest heard yesterday.
Paul Ingram, 59, and 63-year-old Brian Mcfarlane died on the northbound section of the M50 on June 3, 2022.
Dublin District Coroner’s Court was told they were in the outside lane when the front wheel of Mr Mcfarlane’s Harley-davidson touched the rear wheel of Mr Ingram’s BMW F800 bike.
The wheels became locked causing the men to fall under the trailer of a passing articulated lorry.
A preliminary inquest last year heard the bodies of the two men could only be formally identified by DNA.
Witness Frank Lillis recalled seeing the first biker brake but the other rider behind him appeared to be looking at his left leg which momentarily delayed him braking at the same time.
He said the driver of the truck would not have a clue about what happened.
Motorist Padraig Flood said he initially thought both victims had been on the one motorcycle but then realised the two vehicles were stuck together.
And another witness, Niall Donnelly, told the inquest he noticed the two riders were “extremely close to each other” which he thought was “bizarre”.
Mr Donnelly said he thought they were touching handlebars and that they must have known each other.
Trucker Valentin Petkov said he was heading to Dublin Port when he found himself slowing down and speeding up due to heavy traffic on the M50.
He testified he only realised something was wrong when another motorist signalled him to stop. Mr Petkov added: “I did not know what he was talking about at that stage.”
He said he had not seen the motorcyclists in his mirrors. Paramedic David Walsh said both victims had injuries which were incompatible with life. The inquest heard that no mechanical defects were found with either the two motorcycles or the truck.
All three parties involved tested negative for alcohol and drugs.
Garda Lyn Connaughton said she had concluded speed was not a factor in the crash which had occurred at 1.36pm in dry weather conditions.
She said forensic evidence had shown that the front wheel of Mr Mcfarlane’s bike became wedged between the exhaust and rear wheel of Mr Ingram’s. Gda Connaughton said the most likely explanation was that Mr Mcfarlane was momentarily distracted by looking down at his left leg.
Detective Inspector Brian Hanley told the inquest the DPP directed no prosecution should arise out from the crash.
Returning verdicts of accidental death, coroner Clare Keane offered her condolences to the victims’ families.
Mr Ingram, from Northamptonshire, and Mr Mcfarlane, from Oxfordshire, were heading to Belfast after a holiday on the Wild Atlantic Way when the fatal collision occurred.
Gardai issued a public appeal not to share images of the aftermath of the collision after shocking footage of the crash scene was posted on social media within minutes of the fatal incident.
One relative of Mr Ingram said she had seen the images online before realising it was a member of her own family.
The Irish motorcycling community paid tribute to them by providing an escort for Mr Ingram’s coffin as it was repatriated from Dublin Airport and staged a guard of honour for a cremation service for Mr Mcfarlane in Dublin.
Mr Mcfarlane’s partner Ann Hudson, who attended the inquest, said: “He died doing what he loved.
“He had a happy time until this. It was all too soon.”