Motorcyclist to face trial over pedestrian's death after successful appeal by family

Seán McCárthaigh

A motorcyclist is to go on trial next year in relation to a fatal collision with a pedestrian in Dublin city centre three years ago after the victim’s family successfully appealed a decision of the DPP that there should be no criminal prosecution arising from her death.

Marie Farragher Pollard (62), from Bruckey, Castlegar, Co Galway, sustained fatal injuries in the incident which occurred at around 10.40am at the junction of Eden Quay and Beresford Place, Dublin 1, on November 9th, 2022.

The retired nurse and married mother of three, who came originally from The Neale, Co Mayo, died two days later at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin where she had been rushed by ambulance for treatment for her injuries.

The driver of the motorcycle was uninjured and did not require medical treatment.

A sitting of Dublin District Coroner’s Court on Wednesday heard an application by gardaí for an adjournment of the inquest into Ms Farragher Pollard’s death under Section 25 (2) of the Coroners Act as criminal proceedings had been commenced in the case.

Detective Inspector Ken Hoare told the coroner, Clare Keane, that the case was listed for trial in July 2026.

Dr Keane granted the application and adjourned the inquest until a date to be determined on completion of related criminal proceedings.

The coroner had previously been informed at a hearing of the inquest last January that Ms Farragher Pollard’s family had appealed the decision of the DPP in relation to the Garda file on the fatal incident.

The original direction that there should be no prosecution arising from the pedestrian’s death has now been reversed.

Ms Farragher Pollard, who had worked as a theatre nurse at University Hospital Galway until her retirement in 2020, was struck by the motorcycle while she was visiting Dublin to attend an exhibition.

At the opening of her inquest in June 2023, her husband, Tom Pollard, gave evidence of formally identifying his wife’s body.

The results of a postmortem showed Ms Farragher Pollard had died as a result of a traumatic head injury.

Tributes paid to the nurse following her death described her as a “bright light” who was known for her charity work with Concern in Thailand and Bangladesh in the 1980s.

Dominic McSorley, the then chief executive of Concern, said Ms Farragher Pollard was a “compassionate, caring and professional” charity worker who “was loved by all, including the refugees and communities she worked with.”

“Marie fitted in easily and effortlessly everywhere she worked,” said Mr McSorley.