This article is from page 19 of the 2006-12-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 19 JPG
AN INQUEST has heard that an elderly farmer died after he fell from his tractor in west Clare during the summer.
Peter ‘Peadar’ Moloney (81), of Tournavolla, Killimer, Kilrush, died in the accident on his farm, on July 18 last.
His son, Paul, recalled the morning in question. They were putting cows into a field, at Tonovoher, Knockerra, and his father went home – in his tractor – to get a sweeping brush.
Some time later, Paul saw the tractor running on a mound and wondered why his father had parked it there. He called him but his father did not answer.
“I called him. He didn’t answer. He was lying on the ground,” recalled his son.
A doctor later pronounced Mr Moloney dead.
Sergeant Deborah Marsh said she was called to the scene of Mr Moloney’s death at lunchtime on July 18. She said it appeared that Mr Moloney had fallen from his Massey Ferguson tractor and he had been found by his son.
She pointed out that he had sustained a cut to the side of the head.
A PSV inspector noted that the tractor was in a very poor condition, and was without brakes.
A health and safety inspector was notified but is not taking any further action, the inquest heard.
Dr Peter Fawl carried out an autopsy on the body of Mr Moloney. He said death was due to shock, secondary to multiple shock injuries, consistent with being involved in an accident with a tractor.
Coroner Isobel O’Dea suggested that a verdict of accidental death be returned and the jury returned this verdict. Ms O’Dea, Kilrush Superintendent Joe McKeown and the foreman of the jury extended sympathies with the family of Mr Moloney on their tragic loss.