Inquest hears Sligo train driver did all he could to prevent collision with woman (40) on track

Jessica McLoughlin (40) was killed after being hit by a Dublin bound train at Knoxpark, Co Sligo last summer.

After hearing the evidence at the inquest on Monday at Sligo Courthouse, the coroner Eamon MacGowan said he was bringing in a narrative verdict that mother of four Ms McLoughlin of Rusheen Ard, Sligo died on June 14 2023 on the rail line at Knoxpark from injuries sustained from colliding with the train on the background of alcohol and drug intoxication.

Evidence at the Inquest heard the train driver had applied the emergency brakes and sounded the horn and Mr MacGowan said he had done all he could. Ms McLoughlin’s niece, Rebecca Leydon was also struck by the train and received a broken leg.

Her deposition was read out by Sgt Derek Butler. She said she and her aunt went to the train station in Sligo. Her mother left them to the train station and they were going to get the train to Dublin for a day out.

She said she thought it was one o’clock. They had a few drinks. They got off the train in Collooney because she left her phone in the shop in Sligo.

She said she felt guilty about this. They went walking back to Sligo on the train line. She said they didn’t realise there was a train due from Sligo.

They heard the train horn and she said when she looked she didn’t think it was going to hit them but the steps hit them. Ms Leydon said she did not remember much else after that. She suffered a broken leg and had staples in two spots.

“I miss my auntie Jessica. She helped me a lot. When I was homeless she gave me her bed,” Ms Leydon’s deposition concluded. Driver of the train, Padraig O’Gara in a deposition said that on Wednesday, June 14 2023 he was the driver of the 3:05pm Sligo to Dublin train.

After the train passed over the Ballisodare water bridge, it was going around a long sweeping bend to the left. He saw two women in the distance in the middle of the track walking towards him.

He immediately blew the horn and applied the train brakes to the emergency position. The two women moved to the side of the track. One jumped clear while the other didn’t. She stood on the outside of the rail track while still standing on the track. She was crouched forward. Mr O’Gara continued to blow the horn as he knew she wasn’t clear. She collided with the side of the train.

As the train was coming to a halt, he rang the Controller Signal man in Dublin Connolly Station. He informed them of the situation and requested an ambulance, fire brigade and gardaí to attend the scene.

He informed them of his exact location and the nearest access points for the emergency services. His colleague, Ticket Inspector Greg Flanagan, contacted him from the rear of the cab of the train and he told him what happened.

Mr Flanagan got off the train and went back to where the women were. Mr O’Gara said he heard the ambulance coming and he went back to the access point to guide them to the scene. He assisted them with their equipment and brought them to where his colleague and the two women were.

The Coroner asked Mr O’Gara about when he saw the two women if he hit the emergency brake and he replied he did and blew the horn. He said the train was travelling at 60 miles per hour. The Coroner told him he did all that he could do to stop his train and he couldn’t move left or right.

Mr McGowan said it was an unfortunate thing to happen and he hopes he mends and does not carry it into the future and the train driver thanked him.

The next witness was Greg Flanagan. He said he was working on the 3:05 train from Sligo to Dublin. They left Sligo and just after Ballisodare suddenly the emergency brakes came on and the horn sounded.

He was in the back cab and there were 100 passengers on board. Padraig O’Gara the train driver and himself were the only two Irish Rail staff on board.

The train them came to a complete stop and he contacted Padraig on the intercom and asked him if he was alright. Mr Flanagan said he knew what was after happening as he looked out the window and saw a woman about 100 metres back lying on the side of the line.

He told Padraig that if he wanted to stay where he was and contact the emergency services that he would go back to the woman.

When Mr Flanagan went down, he saw there were two women. One woman was crying and trying to stand up. The other woman was moaning lying on the ground and he could see she had serious injuries to her stomach. He told the women not to be moving and that the emergency services were coming. He went back to the train and got a drink of water for the women and he told Padraig the two women were injured and one was very serious.

He went back to the women and the girl with the injured leg drank the bottle of water. The Fire Service came then and he went back to the train to make the passengers comfortable.

A deposition from Paramedic Kieran Currid was read out by Sergeant Gráinne Fagan to the inquest. He said they received a call about persons hit by a train. They brought the ambulance as far as they could to the scene in Ballisodare. They went on foot down the railway line to the injured parties. One patient was speaking so they knew she was alive.

Along with his colleague Michael McGonigle, they treated the other female. The patient was unresponsive with a major open wound to her lower left side. Initially she had a pulse and they treated the wound.

Then the patient went into cardiac arrest. They started CPR and a doctor attended the scene. The doctor pronounced Ms McLoughlin deceased at the scene. Sgt Fagan read her own deposition. She said she was on duty at 3:45pm at Collooney Garda Station and she was informed of an incident on the rail line between Ballisodare and Collooney that two females had sustained injuries.

She travelled to the scene and accessed through Parkes’ Garage and had a brief conversation with the train driver, Padraig O’Gara who said the train had collided with two females walking on the line.

He said he had applied the emergency brakes and sounded the horn but the women didn’t clear the line in time to avoid contact. The train had four carriages and was stationary on the track. She was informed there were 100 passengers on board and they had been instructed by Iarnrod Éireann not to disembark. Sgt Fagan continued further down the line and met Dt Gda Sandra Deery, Gda David Hannon and Gda Tom Dooner who were on the scene upon her arrival. The Ambulance service, Fire Service and representatives of Iarnrod Éireann were there.

The two women were being treated by the emergency response personnel. Dt Gda Deery identified Jessica McLoughlin to her.

Dr Seán Underwood pronounced her dead at the scene at 4:28pm. Rebecca McLoughlin was stretchered onto a rail trolley platform and brought to Sligo University Hospital.

The passengers were escorted from the train and brought to waiting buses at 5:30pm. Sgt Fagan boarded the train and viewed CCTV footage at the time of impact.

She observed Rebecca Leydon and Jessica McLoughlin step off the track. Jessica McLoughlin then lent forward but remained in the path of the train and was ultimately struck.

She remained at the scene until 8:50pm when the body of Jessica McLoughlin was removed and escorted to Sligo University Hospital by Gda Seamus McGowan. Garda Brian Fowley and Garda Derek Healy both Scene of crime Examiners finished examination of the scene at 10:36pm.

Gda Fowley gave her two bags of exhibits. On Saturday, June 17 and Friday, June 22, Sgt Fagan called to Rebecca Leydon at Sligo University Hospital to check on her progress and return personal items to her including €150 cash, her passport and a bag with make-up and personal items.

Sgt Fagan told the inquest she wanted to take the opportunity to convey her sincere condolences to Jessica’s family.

Dt Gda Sandra Deery of Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station read out her deposition to the inquest. She said on Wednesday June 14 at 3:30pm she heard a request from control seeking any available units to assist at a report of two females having been hit by a train near Parkes’ Garage in Ballisodare.

She indicated to control she was available and went to the scene and arrived at the scene at Knoxpark at 4:05pm. She made her way onto the train tracks to the scene of the incident. The first person she met was Padraig O’Gara. He said that he blew the horn but the girl didn’t clear the track.

She enquired as to his welfare and he said he was okay. She spoke to Mary Connolly who identified herself as the Station Manager at Sligo train station. Incident Officer Paddy Donnelly was en route. Paramedics were working on the two casualties.

At approximately 4:30pm Rebecca Leydon was moved from the scene. Paramedics had stopped working on the other casualty, Jessica McLoughlin. Dt Gda Deery informed Sgt Fagan and Sgt McGrath of the identity of the deceased. She preserved the scene and kept a log.

Garda Seamus McGowan of Coolaney Garda Station told the inquest he was on duty from 4pm and was made aware of an incident that had taken place on the railway line between Ballisodare and Collooney where two people had been injured.

He arrived at the scene at 4:40pm. He entered the railway line from the Ballisodare side where he met Dt Gda Sandra Deery where he was informed that the female that was fatally injured was Jessica McLoughlin.

He took up preservation of the scene and escorted the body of Jessica McLoughlin to the mortuary at Sligo University Hospital at 8:50pm. At 9:31pm, the body of Jessica McLoughlin was formally identified to him by her brother, Jason McLoughlin. Depositions were also read at the inquest by Sgt Butler from Mary Connolly, Station Manager, Sligo Train Station, Dr Seán Underwood who was working at the Emergency Department of Sligo University Hospital and attended the scene and who pronounced Ms McLoughlin deceased at 4:28pm and also treated Ms Leydon and accompanied her in the ambulance to Sligo University Hospital.

Depositions were also read from Gda Brian Fowley, Crime Scene Investigator who took photographs of the scene and he then took photographs of the train and the front left step as pointed out to him by the train driver. He informed him that the step appeared to be bent back. He also viewed the CCTV from the train. The autopsy was carried out by Dr Erich Langner at Sligo University Hospital on June 15, 2023. Dr Langer said the deceased died of multiple injuries related to trauma from colliding with a train.

The toxicology showed presence of alcohol, cocaine, diazepam and prescription drugs which may have been a major contributory factor.

The Coroner said that in relation to a verdict and cause of death, he was bringing in a narrative verdict that Jessica McLoughlin died on June 14 2023 on the rail line at Knoxpark from injuries sustained from colliding with a train on the background of alcohol and drug intoxication.

Mr MacGowan said he wished to give his sympathies to Jessica’s family, present at the inquest, and particularly her niece Rebecca who was with her and who he said was sure it was a difficult time for her.

He said that Jessica was a young woman and it was such a shame. He said he also wanted to mention the train driver and wish him the best for the future.

He said he did all that he could and could do nothing else.

Sergeant Derek Butler on behalf of An Garda Síochána also expressed sincere condolence to the family. Mr Declan Hegarty (solicitor) on behalf of Iarnrod Éireann also offered sympathies to the family.