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Ponyman “desperately” tried to control his horse – inquest hears
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By Anne Lucey
The inquests into the deaths of two American tourists killed in the Gap of Dunloe last year heard how the spot where they died was treacherous and that a barrier should be put in place.
Rosalyn Joy Few (64) of Phoenix, Arizona, and her partner Normand Larose (62) originally from Canada, both died at the Gap of Dunloe on April 9, 2018 of blunt force trauma with severe traumatic brain injury due to a fall on rocks from a pony and trap, post mortems had found.
No external factor such as a passing car was involved when the horse and trap suddenly left the road, and nothing spooked the horse.
The horse had worked as a jarvey horse in Killarney, it knew it was slipping and it tried to resist falling over the edge, the inquest in Killarney on Wednesday heard.
Ponyman Dan Casey had “desperately” tried to control his horse and had jumped from the rear door of the trap as horse and trap left the road shortly after the iron bridge.
The Gap of Dunloe traditional traps were very different to the Killarney four wheel jaunting cars in that they had no braking system, an expert garda witness said.
From his examination of the road markings, the horse’s left front shoe lost traction and the weight of the tub and the passengers pushed him over the edge.
Speed was not a factor. Both trap and horse were in good condition and the horse had been shod in recent weeks. Garda O’Brien said he felt there should be a barrier and also brakes on traps.
The six-man jury returned a verdict of accidental death after almost three hours of evidence. They also recommended that barriers be erected.
Dan Casey (53) of Dunloe Upper, Beaufort, told the inquest he was a ponyman for 37 years; he was on his fourth day back to work for the 2018 season. He picked up Ms Few and Mr Normand at 12.30pm at Brandon’s Cottage.
“Suddenly without warning my horse Johnny bolted,” Mr Casey said. He tried to bring him back into control and he himself fell backwards. The entire accident took 30 seconds, he said.
The horse had been working in Killarney as a jarvey horse before he bought him, and from June 2017 to October Mr Casey used the horse in the Gap, he said. Johnny the horse had “a very quiet demeanour” and he had had no problems with him, "absolutely no problems", Mr Casey said.
“I have never previously had an accident on the Gap,” Mr Casey said.
The horse was “at walking pace” at the time.
Ms Quilter thanked the many witnesses who gave evidence. Superintendent Flor Murphy thanked the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team for their recovery of the bodies
Supt. Murphy on behalf of the Gardai, and foreman Paudie Nagle on behalf of the jury, also extended their condolences.
Solicitor for the families of the deceased, Adrian Hegarty, said they wished to thank the people of Killarney, their hotel and their bus driver and other services.
Solicitor for ponyman Dan Casey, Dan O’Connor, extended “the deepest and most heartfelt sympathy”. There was not a day Mr Casey did not pray for the deceased, he said.
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