Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘MOTORCYCLE MALFUNCTION’ LED TO DUNLOP CRASH DEATH
Inquest told expert points to faults with racer’s bike
A FORENSIC collision report into the death of motorcyclist William Dunlop four years ago concluded there was a malfunction with his motorcycle, an inquest has heard.
Lawyers for the owners of the vehicle, Mar-train, Mr Dunlop’s racing team, told a pre-hearing they believed a more correct description of what happened would be there was “damage sustained” by the motorcycle.
The rider from Ballymoney, Co Antrim, was killed in a crash in Skerries, Co Dublin, on July 7, 2018 during a practice run for the Skerries 100 races.
Damien Crawford, counsel for Martrain – a Lisburn-based race team owned by Tim and Sonia Martin – also applied to the coroner Crona Gallagher to have a report by motorsports engineer Chris Martin admitted as evidence in the case.
Mr Crawford told a sitting of Dublin District Coroner’s Court it would assist the inquest by “providing an objective source of information”.
Paul Meagher, solicitor for Mr Dunlop’s widow Janine Brolly, said he would need to consider the report before deciding if they agreed to it being admitted.
Dr Gallagher said coroners would not usually consider third-party reports as part of their inquiry but it was open to them to consider documents which could provide an element of expertise.
EVIDENCE
Detective Inspector Brian Downey told the hearing he did not believe the report by Mr Martin would result in any of the Garda witnesses changing their evidence.
The inquest heard the motorcycle involved in the fatal collision remained in the custody of gardai at Santry.
The coroner said she had also received a report from Motorcycling Ireland and intended to call a witness from the sports body for the full hearing.
Mr Meagher also asked the coroner for Mr Martin to be called to appear as a witness as the owner of Mar-train.
He could provide evidence about the service history of the motorcycle and if there had been any previous incidents with the vehicle.
Dr Gallagher said she was conscious of the time that had elapsed between Mr Dunlop’s death and the holding of an inquest and the effect it was having on the victim’s family.
The coroner said she hoped the full hearing could be held in January 2023.
The 33-year-old was a son of another leading rider, the late Robert Dunlop who was killed in a racing crash in the North West 200 in 2008.
His uncle Joey Dunlop was another legend of road racing and he too was killed in competition.
He was fatally injured in a collision during a race in Estonia in 2000. William Dunlop had a total of 108 career wins.
[Report] will assist in providing objective source of information DAMIAN CRAWFORD BL YESTERDAY AT INQUEST