Motorcyclist’s death ruled as accidental

A friend of Good Samaritan biker, Aidan Lynam, broke down yesterday as he recalled the moment the acclaimed fundraiser met his death during a charity motorcycle event.

Motorcyclist’s death ruled as accidental

Mr Lynam, 44, a father of three, led motorcycle rallies across the country for over 10 years raising €1.6m for Down Syndrome Ireland.

Aidan, from Lucan in Dublin lost his life on May 3, 2015, when his machine and a car collided when he was marshalling a motorcycle rally through Co Clare organised by Rev-up4DSI, which he helped found.

His wife Nikki attended an inquest in Limerick yesterday which recorded a verdict of accidental death.

One of the couple’s three children, Robyn, has Down syndrome.

Following the accident, more than 200 motorcycle friends escorted the hearse on its final journey back to Dublin.

At his funeral, Pat Clarke, the chief executive of Down Syndrome Ireland, said: “Aidan helped found Rev-Up4 DSI and over the past 10 years they held fundraising motorcycle events which included Tour Munster, Tour Leinster and many others.

“As well as his huge fundraising, Aidan was also a great friend to families with Down syndrome children with his forthright assistance in dealing with matters such as medical cards, specials needs, and many other issues.”

Close friend, Matthew Lemon, broke down at yesterday’s hearing as he recalled the final moments when travelling closely behind Aidan before the accident.

They had travelled to Clare over the weekend and were taking part in the motorcycle tour having left Ennis at around 9.30am on the day of the accident.

Before they set out Aidan, who was a road marshal, gave the riders a briefing.

While travelling on the N67 between Kilkee and Kilrush Aidan, who was directly in front of him, pulled out to overtake two cars.

Mr Lemon had his son, aged 13, as a pillion passenger. He also pulled out to overtake the cars and followed Aidan.

As they approached a junction, he was moving back into his left side when Aidan was in collision with a car which had begun to emerge from a side road.

Aidan was thrown from his bike into the air and hit Matthew Lemon’s bike.

More than 200 motorcyclists escorted Aidan Lynam’s hearse back to Dublin in May 2015. Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos
More than 200 motorcyclists escorted Aidan Lynam’s hearse back to Dublin in May 2015. Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos

On going to Aidan’s assistance, Mr Lemon found he was still breathing. First responders and a doctor came.

The bikes were travelling at between 60km/h and 70km/h in a 50km/h zone when overtaking the two cars. Mr Lemon said both he and Aidan were moving back into the left side when the collision occurred. He could not say where Aidan’s bike was when the impact occurred.

Richie Dunne, who also took part in the event, said Aidan was overtaking two cars when a car came from a side road and collided with him.

The driver of the car, Alison Mulconroy, said she had picked up her boyfriend at his home and was travelling into Kilkee before going to work. As she approached the Kilkee/Kilrush road, she looked left and right.

She had pulled out when she came on a motorbike right in front of her car. She was travelling slowly and an inspection of her car found she was in first gear at the moment of impact.

Sgt Seamus O’Regan, forensic collisions investigator, said Mr Lynam was the lead motorbike and was engaged in an overtaking manoeuvre. Ms Mulconroy’s car came from a local road and turned left at the junction with the main Kilkee/Kilrush road and the front of the car collided with Mr Lynam’s motorbike.

Mr Lynam, when thrown from his bike, collided with another machine travelling behind.

Garda Brendan Condon, vehicles inspector, said both the car and motorcycle were in good condition. Part of one tyre on the car was excessively worn, but this would only have been an issue in wet conditions, and it was a fine sunny day.

Dr Vourneen Healy, pathologist, said Mr Lynam died from a penatrating injury.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

Coroner Dr Tony Casey sympathised with Mr Lynam’s widow Nikki and his children. He said Ms Mulconroy had also suffered trauma in the accident and sympathised with her.

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