Patrick Morgan was a 69 year old farmer who lived in Dreenan, near Bellaghy. On Monday 7th February 1944, he was struck by a vehicle which was part of a US convoy of jeeps proceeding through the village. He received severe head injuries and died at home later that evening.
Further Information
Patrick Morgan was born about 1875.
Patrick Morgan was a 69 year old farmer who lived in Dreenan, near Bellaghy.
On Monday 7th February 1944, he was attending the monthly fair in Bellaghy.
A convoy of US jeeps were proceeding through the town. As the last jeep rounded a corner, the trailer of the jeep struck Mr Morgan who was knocked down and rendered unconscious. Dr Thomas was soon in attendance and found that Mr Morgan had received severe injuries to the back of his head.
He was taken home and Patrick Morgan passed away about 7:30 pm that evening.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 12th February 1944: Fatal Accident at Bellaghy – Knocked Down by a Jeep
While the monthly fair in Bellaghy was in progress on Monday (7th February 1944), the last trailier of a convoy of jeeps, as it turned out of Castledawson Street, contacted with Mr Patrick Morgan, aged 69 years, a farmer of Dreenan, who was knocked down and rendered unconscious. Dr Thomas was soon in attendance and found that Mr Morgan had received sever injuries to the back of his head. Later he was taken home and passed away about 7:30 pm on the same evening. Constables McGarrity and Young of Bellaghy were speedily on the scene to make investigations.
The Inquest.
An inquest was held in Gulladuff on Wednesday by Dr Cousley, coroner. Mr Agnew, solicitor, appeared for the next-of-kin.
Daniel McCrystal, nephew of the deceased, told of seeing a man fall and a jeep passing in Bellaghy, and when the witness went to he place, he found the man was his uncle. He was breathing heavily and was carried into Breslin’s public house, where Dr Thomas dressed his head and was then taken home. Miss Elizabeth Gray of Hillhead, employed in Burnside’s factory, said she was looking out at a convoy of jeeps which were moving very slowly down Church Street. When the last had passed the corner, she saw a man caught by the left side of the trailer amd thrown down, and she heard his head hit the ground. Miss L Kennedy, of Oldtown, Deerpark, gave similar evidence. Mr P McKenna, of Church Street, said he was standing at McKaigne’s corner and heard a dull sound, and turning round saw the deceased lying on the ground. The witness helped to carry him into Breslin’s.
Constable Young said that when he went to the place, the injured man had been removed. He saw a jeep on the left side of Church Street. The driver was private Joseph Morbitzer, who said he must have knocked a man down when going round the corner. There were a few spots of blood on the road. The witness found the deceased in Breslin’s, but he was dazed and unable to tell what happened, though he had told his name. The edge of the left mudguard of the jeep and the trailer bore traces of something having brushed them.
Dr Love in evidence said he found the deceased in bed breathing stentoriously. He had a ragged wound at the back of his head. In the witness’ opinion he was suffering from intracranial haemorrhage and was critically ill.
The coroner found in accordance with the medical evidence adding there was a strong presumption that he had been struck by an American jeep.
