Inquest into death of businessman is deferred to allow related criminal proceedings go ahead

An inquest into the death of a Dublin businessman who died from injuries sustained while trying to prevent his car from being stolen in Clondalkin last year has been deferred to allow related criminal proceedings to go ahead, reports Seán McCárthaigh.

Ian McDonnell (50) a married father of three from Elm Close, Lucan, Co Dublin was struck by his own vehicle after it was taken from outside the premises of his used car dealership on January 23, 2022.

He died five days later from his injuries at Tallaght University Hospital.

At a sitting of Dublin District Coroner’s Court on Tuesday, Detective Inspector Padraig Boyce applied for an adjournment of the inquest into Mr McDonnell’s death.

Det Insp Boyce informed coroner Aisling Gannon that the DPP had directed in March that two males should be charged with a total of eight offences in relation to the fatal incident.

Businessman Ian McDonnell later died from his injuries

He claimed most of the charges related to road traffic offences but that one of the accused had been charged with manslaughter.

Det Insp Boyce said Mr McDonnell’s family were aware of the hearing and the request for an adjournment.

Ms Gannon granted the application and asked gardaí to inform the coroner’s court when criminal proceedings in the case had been concluded so that the inquest could go ahead.

At a previous sitting last year, the victim’s wife Monica McDonnell, described how she had learnt about what happened her husband while waiting to catch a flight home from England.

Ms McDonnell outlined how she was waiting in the airport in Liverpool on her way back with the couple’s two daughters, Clodagh and Aoife, from watching a football match at Old Trafford between Manchester United and West Ham.

The couple, who both originally come from Elphin, Co Roscommon, moved to Dublin in 1995. The inquest heard her husband’s Volkswagen Passat was taken after he had left the engine running while he called into his business, Ozone Cars on Robinhood Road, Clondalkin on a Sunday evening at around 6pm.

It is understood he jumped on the bonnet to try and prevent the theft of the vehicle.

He was subsequently discovered lying on the ground with life-threatening injuries a short distance away.

In March, Adam Murphy (21) of Cherry Orchard Crescent, Ballyfermot was charged with Mr McDonnell’s manslaughter as well as the theft of the deceased’s vehicle at Dublin District Court.

Judge Deirdre Gearty heard when charged that Murphy replied: “I’m very sorry for what happened; it was an accident. It was never my intention for anything like that to happen. I’m sorry to the family for the loss.”

He added: “I’m very sorry, I shouldn’t have done it.”

The court heard that the DPP had directed that the accused should face trial on indictment.

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