POST-mortem results for the driver of the car involved in the Buncrana pier tragedy show he may have been three times over the drink driving limit.
The Coroner for Donegal began the inquest into the Buncrana pier tragedy earlier today.
The tragedy occurred in March, 2016 and claimed the lives of five members of one family; 49 year old Sean McGrotty, sons 12 year old Mark and 8 year old Evan, their grandmother Ruth Daniels and her 14 year old daughter Jodie Lee all died when their car slid off Buncrana pier and into the waters of Lough Swilly.
The sole survivor was McGrotty’s baby daughter Rioghnach-Ann who was passed out of the window of the sinking car to passer by Davitt Walsh who had jumped in to the water to help them.
A pathologist who examined Sean McGrotty’s body says the results of the post mortem indicate there may have been an element of intoxication, according to Ocean FM.
Pathologist Dr. Catriona Dillon told an inquest into the deaths of five members of the one family that alcohol may have been a factor.
On examining the body she found 159 milligrams per decimetre of alcohol in Mr McGrotty’s blood.
Under Irish law, the legal limit is 50 milligrams per decimetre.
The pathologist told the inquest she couldn’t indicate if the alcohol impaired Mr McGrotty’s driving as it depended on a number of factors including whether he was a habitual drinker.
But she said the levels of alcohol found may indicate an element of intoxication involved.
Mr McGrotty was behind the wheel when his car entered the water at Buncrana pier last year, in an incident that saw him, his two sons, their grandmother and her daughter to lose their lives.
