Inquest into Wicklow 200 cycle incident that claimed life of retired lawyer returns verdict of 'accidental death'
The married father of two, who was one of Northern Ireland’s best-known criminal lawyers, died from his injuries three days later in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin
A speed ramp that was the location of a fatal crash in Wicklow during one of Ireland’s largest cycling events was in poor condition with its markings “badly worn,” an inquest has heard.
Patrick Kelly (62) from Newforge Lane in Belfast, sustained severe brain and facial injuries after he came off his bicycle while going over the speed ramp on the outskirts of Ashford, Co Wicklow during the Wicklow 200 cycle challenge on June 12, 2022.
The married father of two, who was one of Northern Ireland’s best-known criminal lawyers, died from his injuries three days later in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
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A sitting of Dublin District Coroner’s Court on Thursday heard that Mr Kelly was participating in the shorter 100km version of the 200km route around Wicklow with his friend, Peter Swan, in good weather conditions.
Around 3,000 cyclists take part each year in the event which is one of the most popular sportives staged in the Republic.
In a written statement, Mr Swan said he and Mr Kelly were about 30 kilometres from the finish line and travelling at a speed of 25-30 miles per hour (40-48km/h) when the accident occurred at around 10.15am.
Mr Swan said it seemed that his friend lost control of his bike as he went over the speed ramp.
A forensic collision investigator, Garda James Reynolds, said the road surface at the location of the crash on the L1096 between Glenealy and Ashford was cracked and uneven, while the markings on the speed ramp were “badly worn.”
Garda Reynolds said the first thing that struck him on visiting the scene was the condition of the road and the speed ramp.
“In plain English, it was not in good nick,” he remarked.
Garda Reynolds said a road sign alerting road users to the speed ramp was partially covered by vegetation, while it also contained another warning about a “community alert area.”
He also observed that there were no additional signs put in place to alert cyclists to the speed ramp which he said he would have noticed previously at similar other cycling events.
Garda Reynolds said the speed ramp – or more correctly a “speed cushion” as it did not run the full width of the road – was on a slight downward gradient.
In reply to questions from the coroner, Aisling Gannon, he said the markings for speed ramps on public roads were governed by guidelines rather than regulations.
Garda Reynolds said he had visited the location again in June this year and the road appeared to still be in the same condition.
However, he acknowledged that his report on the fatal crash had only been finalised this summer due to his own involvement in a serious accident which has resulted in him being off work for a considerable time period.
The inquest heard that an analysis of a GPS tracker on the deceased’s bike showed he had been travelling at around 35km/h at the time of the collision.
Garda Reynolds said the device showed Mr Kelly had suddenly slowed down significantly which indicated that “something had gone wrong.”
He said the cyclist had slid about 18 metres along the road after coming off his bike.
The investigator said it was not possible to say why Mr Kelly had slowed down but he concluded that the condition of the speed ramp could have been a contributory factor to what happened.
The organiser of the Wicklow 200, Oliver Kirwan, told the hearing that an ambulance had arrived on the scene of the crash within five minutes of being alerted to the incident.
Mr Kirwan said a subsequent review of the emergency response including the deployment of a rapid response unit was also deemed satisfactory as all actions had been “professional and timely.”
He told the inquest that the organisers of the annual event had never experienced such an incident before.
Mr Kirwan said it was the personal responsibility of participants to decide if the challenge was suitable for them and they had to sign a disclaimer to register for the Wicklow 200.
He said the organisers carried out a risk assessment of the proposed route months in advance to make it both “challenging and as safe as possible.”
He told the coroner that there were inherent risks in cycling on Irish roads.
Mr Kirwan confirmed that roads were not closed for the event but marshals were in place along the entire route.
He said there were eight speed ramps in total on the route for the Wicklow 200 in 2022.
Mr Kirwan said it would not be possible to devise a route that completely avoided speed ramps.
He acknowledged that speed ramps were not identified as a specific risk in information provided to participants in the event.
The witness said the route had been changed the following year for “logistical” reasons which were unrelated to the fatal collision.
An advance paramedic who attended the injured cyclist, Paul Knoesen, said Mr Kelly was bleeding significantly and it was clear that he had sustained a significant head injury.
“He was unresponsive and in a critical condition,” said Mr Knoesen.
Garda Kieran Kennedy, a public service vehicle inspector, said he had found no defect with the sports bike used by Mr Kelly.
The inquest heard that the cyclist was wearing footwear that would have clipped into the bike’s pedals which might have prevented him reacting quickly enough to put his feet on the ground to break his fall.
The coroner also heard evidence that Mr Kelly had suffered problems with his left eye for a number of years prior to his death including cataracts and glaucoma.
A consultant ophthalmic surgeon, Richard Best, told the inquest that the deceased had reduced vision in his left eye but no limitations had been placed on him driving as his other eye had normal vision.
The inquest heard Mr Kelly, who was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash which was not badly damaged, suffered severe brain and facial injuries as well as multiple fractures including ones to his collarbone, shoulder blade and ribs.
A postmortem confirmed that he died from severe, acute traumatic head injuries consistent with a fall from a bicycle.
The deceased’s wife, Doreen Kelly, who formally identified her husband’s body, said he was very fit and well prior to his death.
In reply to questions from the coroner, Ms Kelly said she had no concerns about her husband’s health at the time and his participation in the Wicklow 200.
Mr Kelly, who was a founding partner of Belfast legal firm, McConnell, Kelly Solicitors over 30 years ago, had retired from practising law just a short time before his death.
His son, Rory Kelly, expressed a wish that improved markings would be used in future to alert cyclists to speed ramps.
A jury of four men and two women returned a verdict of accidental death but made no recommendations.
Offering her condolences to Mr Kelly’s family, Ms Gannon said the report of the forensic collision investigator would be made available to both Wicklow County Council and the organisers of the Wicklow 200.
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