Jack O'Neill's Pages from The Past

Wednesday, 2nd May 2012

Waterford News february 1947

Railway Line Tragedy

The tragic and most unfortunate circumstances under which Mrs. Johanna O'Brien (50), 69 Ferrybank, met her death on the railway line at Lr. Ferrybank on Wednesday, were investigated by Mr. G.A. Nolan, City Coroner, sitting with a jury when he held an inquest yesterday, at the Co. Hospital, John Hill, where the deceased woman died shortly before 6 o'clock on Wednesday evening.

Inspector Croke, with Sergeant Cully, represented the Garda authorities, Mr. F. Power, solr., (Messrs. Dobbyn & McCoy) represented the C.I.E.

Wm. O'Brien, dock labourer, husband, identified the remains as those of his wife, who he said, was aged 50 years. He saw his wife leave their home yesterday morning at about 9.30. She was then in her usual good health. He knew she was leaving to pick cinders on the railway siding in the Marsh field at Ferry bank.

"About ten minutes later" went on the witness, "I heard the alarm and on going out, I found my wife lying badly injured in the field. She spoke to me before she was removed by ambulance to the Co. Hospital."

Nicholas Carroll, 23 Castle Street, Waterford, engine driver, employed by the C.I.E. said yesterday morning he was driving a train with a wagon of ashes to the marsh field at Ferrybank. There were ten laden wagons attached containing 4 or 5 tons of ashes. The engine was pushing the wagons attached containing 4 or 5 tons of ashes. The engine was pushing the wagons into the siding. There was a guard's van at the rear.

Thos. O'Gorman, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny, C.I.E. ganger said he was in charge of a party of men unloading cinders at the marsh field, Ferrybank, yesterday morning. A trainload of ashes arrived at about 9.45am. There were about 50 to 60 men, women and children, picking cinders at the time. The deceased was among them. He saw Guard Hannon uncoupling the centre of the train and the remaining portion move away. All the people who were picking cinders were at the riverside of the track and were divided along the train.

"When," said the witness, "the train moved, I heard a scream and saw the deceased on the rails. When I looked the wheel of the last wagon was passing over her body. I went to her assistance immediately. I heard the whistle being sounded before the train was backed."

To Mr. Power - "There was a bank of ashes about 3 1/2 feet to 4 feet high between the people and the train." They were picking ashes at the foot of that bank. When the train moved, witness was on the wagon nearest the moving portion of the train. The wagon was being discharged. To further questions by Mr. Power the witness said he had previously ordered the people to keep away from the place. He knew that the C.I.E. had prosecuted people on various occasions. There was a number of trespass warning notices in the vicinity.

After a short retirement the jury returned a verdict of accidental death in accordance with the medical evidence. The Coroner, Inspector Croke, the foreman of the jury and Mr. Power Solr.. expressed very deep sympathy with the relatives.