Gardaí followed driver convicted of dangerous driving causing her death for 21kms
An inquest into the death of 20-year-old Drogheda woman in a road traffic incident in County Meath five years ago has been told that the car in which she was a back seat passenger was pursued by marked and unmarked Garda vehicles for over 21 kilometres through parts of Louth and Meath.
The pursued car eventually crashed into another vehicle on the N2 in Meath resulting in the death of Jillian Thornton of Halpin Terrace, Drogheda.
The incident took place on Friday 27th May 2016 and in 2019 a 34-year-old man, Michael Collins, of St Finian’s Park, Drogheda, was imprisoned for 14 years for dangerous driving causing her death. During the 13-day trial a Garda witness said the defendant appeared to have been playing “chicken” with other motorists.
At the inquest, conducted at Navan Courthouse yesterday by County Meath Coroner Nathaniel Lacy, Sergeant David Campbell said he had investigated a road traffic incident at Waterside Great, Rathfeigh, Duleek.
As a result of gathering physical and technical evidence he was in a position to say that on the evening in question a Mitsubishi Colt car was being pursued from the townland of Waterunder near Drogheda, then through the town itself and out into County Meath through the villages of Donore and Duleek and along the N2 for a period of time until it was in collision at 10.30pm with a Volkswagen Passat at a location 10km North of Ashbourne and 6km south of Slane.
The Mitsubishi crossed onto the incorrect side of the road into the path of the VW Passat. It collided with the other car while travelling sideways.
The front of the Passat connected with the rear offside of the Mitsubishi sending it into an approximate 360-degree spin causing the rear end of the Mitsubishi to become detached and come to rest on the opposite side of the carriageway in the grass margin.
The sergeant said that the impact of the collision had caused the rear end of the Mitsubishi to become detached from the car. Ms Thornton had been flung from the vehicle and was discovered unconscious and unresponsive by Gardai in a ditch some distance away.
She was taken to Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan where she was pronounced deceased, Sergeant Campbell said.
Consultant pathologist Dr Muna Sabah said that the deceased had suffered multiple injuries. The coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.
Some newspaper coverage of the 2019 trial:
Man sentenced to 14 years for causing fatal car crash
Driver who appeared to be ‘playing chicken’ before fatal crash convicted
