Death of boy (14) in car crash after pursuit by Garda van ruled accidental

An inquest into the death in Killarney five years ago of the 14-year-old driver of a car being pursued by a Garda van has returned a verdict of accidental death.

Contradictory evidence was heard at the inquest into the death of Thomas Healy, of the Gap of Dunloe, Co Kerry . The boy’s best friend, Alfie Barrett, who was 15 at the time and who was severely injured in the incident, said Thomas had panicked after a Garda van, with its blue lights flashing, had pursued them down Ross Road in Killarney.

The last thing Alfie said he recalled was the van coming right up behind them, its lights shining into the car, and Thomas panicking. They had been trying to calm each other down. “He was a bit panicked ... He was nervous and shaking,” he told Dan O’Connor, solicitor for the Healy family.