Man hoped to confiscate drunk friend’s car keys shortly before fatal crash

A DRIVER told an inquest how he wanted to confiscate car keys from a friend, who just moments later drove on to a national road into the path of an articulated lorry.

Frank Walsh (61), from Treenlaur, Kiltimagh, Co Mayo, a building contractor, died instantly.

Mr Walsh was found to be five times over the legal blood alcohol limit after the crash on the N5, near Swinford, Co Mayo, on February 13, 2018.

Mark, his student son, was found slumped beside him in the wreckage of the UK-registered Cadillac.

Badly injured, Mark was rushed by ambulance to Mayo University Hospital before being transferred by helicopter to another hospital for specialised treatment. He survived the crash.

PJ Cronin, giving evidence yesterday at the inquest in Castlebar, said he spotted his friend on the Kiltimagh/Swinford road but felt he should not be behind the wheel as his driving was “swervy”. He saw Mr Walsh at the back door of his house earlier that day and had advised him to go inside the house as “he seemed to be drowsy”.

Mr Cronin followed his friend’s car and about a mile from Swinford witnessed a switch of drivers with Mark getting out of the driver’s side and his father taking over the wheel. “I decided at this stage that if they pulled into Applegreen service station I would pull in after them and take the keys off them,” he said.

“I saw brake lights and he stopped at the junction. I did not see an indicator.

“Frank’s car seemed to take off at pace. It was like he misjudged that a lorry coming from his right was so close to him and he accelerated quickly to get out of its path.

“He had turned to the right and the lorry hit his side of the car. Both vehicles ended up in the ditch on the opposite side of the road.”

Crash witness Ms Andrea Cully told the inquest the grey/blue Cadillac appeared not to stop at the junction but kept going.

The driver of the truck, Eugene Casey, was beeping his horn constantly she said.

He did all he could do to avoid the collision. Mr Casey said he was in “pure shock” after accident.

Mr Walsh’s level of blood alcohol was determined to be 377mg.

The coroner noted the level of the deceased was five times the legal limit.

After a short period of deliberation, the inquest jury returned a verdict of misadventure.

Mark Walsh was unable to attend the hearing.

Sergeant David Tiernan, on behalf of An Garda Síochána, and the foreman of the inquest jury joined in the expressions of sympathy.

Blood alcohol level of the deceased was five times the legal limit