YOUNG MECHANIC WOULD HAVE KNOWN NOTHING OF WHAT HAPPENED
Young mechanic would have 'known nothing' of what happened
A YOUNG man who lived for the cars he loved to work on died rapidly from the shrapnel injuries he sustained.
The inquest heard that Adrian Gallagher, who was known to his family and friends as Aiden, was close to the seat of the explosion.
Michael Kieran Barren told the inquest that at about 2pm on August 15 1998, Aiden Gallagher called at his home and they went into the town centre to do some shopping.
While they were in Watterson's, someone came in and said there was a bomb scare at the top of the town. They joined other people in the street heading towards Market Street.
Mr. Barrett said they went into Supervalu where he bought something to drink, and on going outside again they were advised by police to go further down the street.
He said that, along with others, he watched as police put a white tape across the street at Radio Rentals.
All of a sudden there was a massive explosion and everything went black with smoke, dust and debris. Something fell on his left foot, hurting it, Mr. Barrett said.
He said he managed to make his way down to Slevin's, then realised Aiden was not with him. He went back to look but was too weak, and fell on the pavement outside the Kozy Corner public house.
James Quinn said he went to the Market Street after hearing the explosion. There was chaos at the scene.
"I saw what I thought were dummies lying on the street, but they were real people," he said.
Mr. Quinn said he saw Mr. Gallagher lying on his back. People with him said he was dead.
Ciaran Brennan told the inquest that he saw Mr. Gallagher lying in the road near the bomb had gone off. "I knew he was dead," he told the coroner.
Mr. James Gallagher told the inquest he identified the body of his nephew to police.
Professor Jack Crane said the cause of death was due to transection of the spine at the first and second vertebrae due to a shrapnel injury.
It appeared shrapnel struck Mr. Gallagher in the face before exiting through the upward part of the spine. Death would have been very rapid.
Superficial burns to the body suggested Mr. Gallagher had been fairly close to the explosion, he said.
Asked by the coroner how rapid the death would have been, the pathologist said: "1 do not think he would have known anything about what happened."
The coroner expressed his deep sympathy to Aidan's father, Michael, who was in court.
He said he hoped the fact that Aiden would have known nothing about what happened would be some comfort to the family.
A YOUNG man who lived for the cars he loved to work on died rapidly from the shrapnel injuries he sustained.
The inquest heard that Adrian Gallagher, who was known to his family and friends as Aiden, was close to the seat of the explosion.
Michael Kieran Barren told the inquest that at about 2pm on August 15 1998, Aiden Gallagher called at his home and they went into the town centre to do some shopping.
While they were in Watterson's, someone came in and said there was a bomb scare at the top of the town. They joined other people in the street heading towards Market Street.
Mr. Barrett said they went into Supervalu where he bought something to drink, and on going outside again they were advised by police to go further down the street.
He said that, along with others, he watched as police put a white tape across the street at Radio Rentals.
All of a sudden there was a massive explosion and everything went black with smoke, dust and debris. Something fell on his left foot, hurting it, Mr. Barrett said.
He said he managed to make his way down to Slevin's, then realised Aiden was not with him. He went back to look but was too weak, and fell on the pavement outside the Kozy Corner public house.
James Quinn said he went to the Market Street after hearing the explosion. There was chaos at the scene.
"I saw what I thought were dummies lying on the street, but they were real people," he said.
Mr. Quinn said he saw Mr. Gallagher lying on his back. People with him said he was dead.
Ciaran Brennan told the inquest that he saw Mr. Gallagher lying in the road near the bomb had gone off. "I knew he was dead," he told the coroner.
Mr. James Gallagher told the inquest he identified the body of his nephew to police.
Professor Jack Crane said the cause of death was due to transection of the spine at the first and second vertebrae due to a shrapnel injury.
It appeared shrapnel struck Mr. Gallagher in the face before exiting through the upward part of the spine. Death would have been very rapid.
Superficial burns to the body suggested Mr. Gallagher had been fairly close to the explosion, he said.
Asked by the coroner how rapid the death would have been, the pathologist said: "1 do not think he would have known anything about what happened."
The coroner expressed his deep sympathy to Aidan's father, Michael, who was in court.
He said he hoped the fact that Aiden would have known nothing about what happened would be some comfort to the family.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1566
Published Date: 28-Sep-00
Related Images
