Patrick Mulholland of Gortinure, Maghera, a farmer aged 72 years, was knocked down by a military motor cycle on the Grillagh side of Maghera railway on Tuesday 24th February 1942. He sustained injuries from which he died later in the day.
Further Information
Patrick Mulholland of Gortinure, Maghera, a farmer aged 72 years, was knocked down by a military motor cycle on the Grillagh side of Maghera railway on Tuesday 24th February 1942. He sustained injuries from which he died later in the day.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 28th February 1942: Cycling Tragedy near Maghera
Patrick Mulholland of Gortinure, Maghera, a farmer aged 72 years, was knocked down by a military motor cycle on the Grillagh side of Maghera railway on Tuesday forenoon, and sustained injuries from which he died later in the day. The cyclist, Lance Corporal Matthews, was also injured.
Dr Cousley, coroner for Loughinshollin, attended at Magherafelt Workhouse and held an inquiry into the circumstances of the man’s death.
D.I. Stratford represented the Crown, and Mr R E Burns, L.L.B., solicitor, appeared for the next-of-kin.
Patrick Mulholland (son of the deceased), said his father was an active man for his years. He did not remember him suffering from any serious illness. His sight and hearing were both good. He last saw him alive in the Magherafelt Infirmary, and was present when he died, and he identified the body as that of his father.
Dr Keatley, Medical Officer of Magherafelt Infirmary, gave evidence of seeing the deceased after admission. He was suffering from a fracture to the base of the skull and leg injury. The cause of death was shock and haemorrhage due to fracture of the skull.
Constable McMenamin, of Swatragh, said that about 11.10 a.m. on Tuesday, he was on duty on the Swatragh-Maghera road when a convoy of military buses passed him, and he saw a military cyclist come into contact with a pedestrian, who was knoecked down. The man was Patrick Mulholland, of Gortinure. The cyclist, who he afterwards learned was Lance Corporal Matthews, was thrown off his bicycle onto the road. Both men were injured and attended by a military doctor who was with the convoy. The deceased was conveyed in a military vehicle to Magherafelt Infirmary and the cyclist was taken by military to a hospital. The witness did not see the deceased cross the road, but saw the cyclist crash into the man, who was walking towards Maghera. The convoy of buses was going in the opposite direction towards Swatragh, having come from Maghera.
To Mr Burns – The convoy was a long one. Two of the buses had passed the deceased and seemed to be going at a reasonable speed. When these two buses had passed, the witness saw the deceased fifty yards off. He did not notice the motor cyclist, but heard the noise of the engine before the crash. There was a bus of the convoy opposite the deceased when the witness saw him first from Gray’s Corner. In the opinion of the witness, the deceased would not have attempted to cross in front of the lorries. The accident took place when the deceased was about six feet out from the grass verge.
Constable Murray produced a sketch map of the scene of the accident. There were blood marks and a petrol stain on the road, and another blood mark at the ditch where the cyclist was flung off his bicycle. Scrapes on the concrete road were visible. The witness found two large overcoat buttons, civilian type, about sixteen feet from where the accident took place. The motor cyclist was still in hospital and unable to be present at the inquest.
Owing to the absence of the military cyclist, the D.I. said there was not sufficient evidence to conclude the enquiry, and he would ask for an adjournment, until the cyclist had recovered.
Dr Cousley expressed his sympathy with the widow and son of the deceased. Sudden deaths such as this were very regrettable, and the tragedy of a fatal accident was a sorrowful memory to those who were left to mourn the sudden bereavement. The D.I. associated himself with the Coroner’s remarks. The experience of a sudden death was one long remembered in a family.
Mr Burns, on behalf of the relatives of the deceased, thanked the Coroner and the D.I. for their sympathetic remarks.
It is not known where Patrick Mulholland is buried.
