Councillor wants gardaí to prosecute council following tragic collision

Raphoe councillor, Frank McBrearty Jnr has reported Donegal County Council to An Garda Síochana for what he claims is their failure to enact badly needed safety measures such as the provision of a footpath at Guesthouse End in Raphoe.

It follows the tragic passing last Monday of Mary Theresa Hepburn (53) (née Peoples) from 21 Castle Grove, Raphoe after she was struck following a collision between a van and a car last Wednesday week.

Ms Peoples, who was a pedestrian, was rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital and later to a hospital in Dublin where she passed away on Monday. She will be buried tomorrow, Friday, March 11 in New Leck Cemetery following Requiem Mass at 11am in St Eunan's Cathedral, Letterkenny.

Cllr McBrearty Jnr has contacted Chief Superintendent Terry McGinn at Letterkenny Garda Station about the matter. He said he wants the council prosecuted for manslaughter in this case.

In an e-mail Ms McGinn informed the councillor that the incident is being categorised as a fatal road traffic collision and will be investigated in accordance with the Garda Traffic Collision Investigation Policy including the use of specialist services such as Forensic Collision Investigators, PSV Inspector and Scenes of Crime Examiners, Family Liaison Officer, among other services.

“Your particular assertions will form part of that investigation,” she said.

Cllr McBrearty Jnr said the council knew of the dangers in and around Raphoe for many years.

“People driving on this road are also in danger due to no footpath or visibility on what they may meet driving into and out of Raphoe at this junction where five roads meet,” he said.

“There are four social housing estates, a playschool, multiple houses in this area, a playground and St Eunan's Terrace that comes out onto the Glen (Guesthouse End) about 100 feet from where there should be a footpath.

“The council are using the excuse that no funding was available for upgrading footpaths even though they were granting permission for housing developments in the same areas at the same time,” he said.