Former bank manager Ronan was struck by reversing van
A former bank manager died as a result of injuries he received when he was hit by a reversing van Wexford Coroner’s Court heard last Thursday.
Ronan Furlong (79), of Marianelle, Ferrybank died at Wexford General Hospital on May 4, 2015 after he had been hit by a reversing van at Crosstown Cemetery the previous afternoon.
The deposition of Pat Leniston of Lakelands, Bridgetown was read into the record by Inspector Pat McDonald. Mr Leniston said that he had left Crosstown Cemetery when he saw a van parked up on the road facing the cemetery. He also saw a man walking a dog. He then saw the van starting to reverse and the man jumped out of the way but was knocked to the ground.
The driver of the van and the passenger both got out of the van. Mr Leniston said he didn’t think the accident was serious at the time, thinking it was ‘just a tip’ but at the Crescent he turned back.
Garda Eimear O’Reilly said she was called to the scene and said Mr Furlong had a visible head injury but was responsive.
The driver of the van, John Paul Connors, was ‘visibly distressed’ she said. He told her that as he was reversing he heard a bang and alighted from the van with his passenger John Connors. He said he hadn’t seen the man behind him and thought he was still standing in a nearby driveway.
Garda O’Reilly said that on the following day, she received a call saying Mr Furlong had died at Wexford Hospital. Dr Maurice Murphy, pathologist at Waterford Regional Hospital, said cause of death was severe head injuries consistent with a road traffic accident.
County coroner Dr Sean Nixon recommended that the jury of six men return a verdict of accidental death which they did.
He said that John Paul Connors had been charged with dangerous driving causing death and driving a defective vehicle as the side mirrors of the van were deemed defective.
Dr Nixon extended sympathy to Mr Furlong’s family on their ‘sad and tragic loss’.
Foreman of the jury, Billy Morris, and Inspector Pat McDonald also extended sympathy to the family on behalf of the jury and gardai respectively.
Another member of the jury said he had known Mr Furlong well saying he had ‘made a marvellous contribution to all aspects of Wexford community for many years’.