Schoolboy killed in traffic accident

Dr L.A. Byrne, the City Coroner, has overseen the inquest into the death of Thomas Whelan, aged 5, from 4 Lower Gloucester Street, Dublin.

His mother told the inquest that Thomas had gone to play in the street at 4.45pm. She saw the boy get knocked down by a horse. Although he initially managed to get to his feet, hefell down again, and the wheels of the cart that the horse was pulling, passed over him. The driver of the hackney carriage was going at a normal speed, but because of his position in his cab, had not realised that the boy had been struck.

Thomas was taken to Jervis Street hospital where he died six hours later from abdominal injuries and shock. The hackney carriage driver was fully exonerated by the coroner, and a verdict of accidental death recorded.