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By Anne Lucey

A cyclist in a mentoring programme for new cyclists, run by Killarney Cycling Club, died after she went under the wheel of a large agricultural trailer, on the N22 Killarney bypass, an inquest was told.

Annette Mannix (48) St Brendan's Place, Killarney, died on May 10, 2017 due to severe traumatic injuries in a road traffic collision at the Lewis Road junction on the 100km an hour bypass, Killarney Coroner's Court heard.

Ms Mannix was described as a "slow but steady" cyclist and was behind others in the programme for new cyclists wanting to enter the annual Ring of Kerry Cycle for around 20, set up by the Killarney Cycling Club. Behind her were two club mentors. There had been a cycle lane until the junction. As the three person tail group, going in the Killorglin/Tralee direction merged onto the roadway, they were overtaken by a tractor and trailer also going in the same direction. It was a spot where there was little room for cyclists, expert witness Garda PSV inspector Garda James O’Brien said.

Garda O’Brien said it was “not clear” what caused Ms Mannix to come off her bike and be rolled over by the back wheel of the large hay turner agricultural trailer, drawn by a John Deere tractor.

It was a clear bright evening shortly after 7pm, and the group had set out from the nearby sports centre on their 25km run, the inquest was also told.

“The deceased fell off her bike, landed on the road way and was overrun by the back wheel of the trailer. It is not clear what led to the fall,” the garda concluded.

The junction was “a cumbersome process” for cyclists, as they had to leave the cycling lane and use a shared space, and return again to the cycle lane, Garda O’Brien also said.

The agricultural tractor with 1.5 metre high back wheels, and “brand new” hay turner trailer were in good condition and the driver had a good view of the road and good mirror system. Excessive speed was not involved, Garda O’Brien said.

The light-framed purple pedal 18-speed cycle of Ms Mannix was almost new and in good condition also.

“A gap" had appeared between Ms Mannix and the other cyclists in the convoy. She was the last in the group and behind her were two club mentors.

Accounts to the inquest of what happened differed.

Paul O’Raw of the Killarney Cycle Club, one of the mentors at the rear, said it was the fourth week of the 12-week cycling club mentoring programme for the new cyclists. They went single file at the junction, and she did not stray onto the road. The tractor had moved gradually to the left and the rear wheel had knocked her off her bike, and the trailer then rolled over her, Mr O’Raw said in his deposition.

Tractor driver, Dean Taylor, told Gardai Ms Mannix had gone up onto the footpath and had come off suddenly as he passed. He was experienced with tractor driving and had not moved into his left. He spoke of his shock after seeing her go under the wheel of his trailer.

A lorry driver said the cyclist had sped up while being passed by the tractor, made contact with the left wheel of the tractor, lost control and wobbled.

The six man jury returned a verdict of accidental death. Coroner for south and east Kerry, Aisling Quilter, Garda Supt Flor Murphy, and jury foreman Paudie Nagle extended their sympathy to the family of Ms Mannix, including her sister Suzanne Dennehy, who has campaigned for improvements to the junction since her sister's death.