M1 crash victim’s travel companion ‘didn’t care’ after death, inquest told

Darryl Thompson (22)[1] was a previously physically healthy man when he was struck by a car on the M1 road near Dungannon on Saturday 10, November 2018 and died as a result of head and neck injuries.

A key witness had been instructed to attend court in person on Wednesday in order to give their evidence.

Kellie Keenan was the front seat passenger in the car Mr Thompson was travelling in shortly before his death.

She said the victim of the motorway accident had been involved in an argument with Dominic Daly who was in the back seat. Ms Keenan had told the inquest the argument was verbal in nature, "they weren't fighting, hitting each other -- there was no physical punching or anything".

However, Coroner's Counsel Michael McCartan had told Ms Keenan that she and the driver, Tiernan Sutton, had confirmed to a police officer that Mr Thompson and Mr Daly had been in a "fist fight" and that their fight continued on the hard shoulder.

When he attempted to press the point to see if she had any recollection of a fist fight, Ms Keenan's video link to the court cut off and an attempt was made to reconnect her.

Ms Keenan was told to attend via video link yesterday but the court was told she had not appeared.

There was said to be "no response" from Ms Keenan by the conclusion of the sitting.

The coroner made clear that Ms Keenan has been instructed to attend in person on Wednesday and the court will utilise powers available to it if that does not happen.

Yesterday, several witnesses who were driving on the motorway on the night Mr Thompson died appeared to give evidence. They all noted there was foggy weather, and that after the incident happened there was a build-up of cars as many people were travelling home from a 'drift car' racing event at Tullyoan.

One witness noticed a person at the side of the road "twisting" and trying to get away from others.

They noticed an argument on the hard shoulder, believed to be Mr Thompson and those he was travelling with.

A number of witnesses were basing their evidence off what they observed in seconds while driving past.

Another witness felt there was "nothing malicious" in terms of what they'd seen and believed individuals were trying to "help like mates would" by encouraging Mr Thompson to get into the car.

A female witness said that Mr Thompson's friend was acting "suspicious" and the woman had said "we need to get out of here".

Witness Megan Newell said she came across a man in a blue hoodie on his hunkers at the side of the road who said his mate was dead.

She told the court there was a "strong smell of alcohol off him".

He spoke of a fight in the car.

A girl in a green coat then arrived along with a ginger-haired man who was "very drunk" and "couldn't walk straight".

Ms Newell overheard a conversation between them where one of the males said: "Look at what you have done".

The witness said the man responded: "I don't care".

When the woman in the green coat said: "That's your mate", he responded: "No, that's his mate".

The witness said the boy in the blue hoodie then said: "I can't go back to the nick (prison)".

Ms Newell went to retrieve items from her car and when she returned with friends the two men and woman were gone.

Chloe Brisbane shared similar evidence saying the ginger-haired male "wasn't emotional" and at one point said he "didn't care what happened".

The ginger-haired male was said to be heavily intoxicated and "stumbling".

Ms Brisbane was also "suspicious" that the main concern from the man in the blue hoodie appeared to be that he "didn't want to go to the nick".

It was said that the female in a green coat was "keen" to "move the car" and "distance herself".

The PSNI later asked Ms Brisbane which car the individuals were in that they'd spoken to and to identify those inside.

On Monday, bereaved mother Edwina Thompson-Clarke remembered with deep affection her "bright-eyed" boy who was knocked down on the M1 saying, "I miss him every waking minute of each and every day".

She said the "sparkle" never left his eyes from the moment he was born until the night she saw him dead on the motorway "when the light and sparkle had gone out from his eyes forever".

The inquest continues.

References

1. ^ Darryl Thompson (22) (www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk)