The coroner in Clare has delivered a verdict of accidental death at the inquest of a Kerry man who died during the Clare Stages Rally in 2023.
The inquest took place into the death of 37-year-old Damien Fleming, who died from multiple injuries after a car crashed into Mr Fleming’s stationary car during the rally in September 2023.
The inquest heard Mr Fleming, a navigator, and his co-driver Nigel Creagh, had pulled in due to mechanical difficulties but there was only room for one car on the road.
Damien Fleming’s co-driver, Nigel Creagh, told the inquest their car was experiencing mechanical difficulties and pulled the car in opposite a farmhouse.
Mr Creagh said he pulled in as far as he could as there were stones outside the gate, then he got out of the car to see what was wrong and waved two cars passed.
Rally driver Gerard Greene told the inquest he noted that 150 metres ahead a white Ford Escort had pulled in to the left hand side, and there were people waving him off to the right and others to slow down.
Mr Greene said he was doing 80-100 miles per hour, which is roughly between 130-160km/h, moved as far right as he could.
He said he felt the car caught some grass, felt the rear of the car going, and tried to correct it but the car skidded into the rear of the white Escort containing Mr Fleming.
Mr Greene said, “There was nothing I could do – it was over in a second.” He said “I am very sorry for the unfortunate outcome and I feel devastated for the man’s family.
As the road was closed for the rally, there was no speed limit in operation at the time on the narrow stretch of road that only had room for one car, at Glencomcille near the village of Carron in the Burren.
The inquest heard the fatal collision happened in front of a number of spectators, and one spectator, David Clarke, said the saw the Ford Escort explode on impact.
Sgt Eoin O’Connor said the braking only occurred 25 metres from the point of impact, and that it should be noted Mr Greene was not warned on the approach to the hazard by the Course Marshal, as it is a safety precaution outlined in the safety plan for such events.
Mr Fleming’s family thanked people for looking after him and being so kind – they said they appreciate the love and care he got.
