The eight men killed in the crash.
The families of some of the eight men killed in a road crash in Co Donegal almost six years ago have expressed their frustration with the remit of the coroner’s court after a unlawful killing verdict this evening (Friday) from a jury hearing the case.
Seven friends in a car being driven by Shaun Kelly outside Clonmany on July 11, 2010, died in the crash.
Hugh Friel, (66), a pensioner returning from bingo died in the other vehicle when Kelly crashed into him.
The inquest was beset by legal arguments throughout over the involvement of a third vehicle on the night of the incident.
The inquest heard that Kelly’s car had earlier collided with a Renault Megane being driven by 62-year-old Anne McGilloway.
There were a number of legal arguments over which side of the road Mrs McGilloway was on.
The seven people who died in Kelly’s car were Paul Doherty (19), of Ardagh, Ballyliffin; Ciaran Sweeney (19), of Ballyliffin; PJ McLaughlin (21), of Rockstown, Burnfoot; James McEleney (23), of Meenaduff, Clonmany; Damien McLaughlin (21), of Umricam, Buncrana, Eamon McDaid, 22 of Ballymagan, Buncrana and Mark McLaughlin (21) of Ballinahone, Fahan.
Coroner Dr John Madden told the families of the seven men in Kelly’s car this evening that no-one should ever have to bury a child.
Turning to Hugh Friels’ brother Anthony and addressing the relatives Dr Madden said: “This was the most difficult and stressful inquest I have ever been involved in. It is the worst thing any parent ca