The late Gabriel Howard.

Inquest hears Gabriel Howard died in 'unfortunate tragic accident'

Elaine Keogh 


The inquest into the death of popular cyclist Gabriel ‘Gaybo’ Howard  from Stamullen has heard he died from a severe head injury that rendered him unconscious immediately.

Drogheda Coroner’s Court heard 72 year-old Mr Howard, from Stedalt, Stamullen,  died in a ‘tragic accident,’ on a potato farm in Stamullen.

It heard that he was struck by a teleporter on the afternoon of February 9th last year and died in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda later that day.

Coroner Mr Ronan Maguire heard the operator of the teleporter had known the deceased all his life and both were working on the farm that afternoon.

The operator had washed out the bucket on the teleporter and he had chatted to Mr Howard until he (Mr Howard) went to take a  phone call.

He began to lift the bucket to let it drip dry when he saw Mr Howard’s feet.

He immediately jumped out to check on him and while Mr Howard was breathing, he was lying on his back and not responsive.

In his deposition he said he did not believe anybody was in the vicinity of the loader as he was operating it.

The inquest heard there were no visible marks on Mr Howard other than dirt marks across each leg.

Pathologist Dr Peter Szontagh-Kishazi said Mr Howard had a depressed skull fracture 9cm in length and he concluded death was due to a severe head injury.

His family were told Mr Howard would have been rendered unconscious immediately. 

The jury found Mr Howard, from Stedalt, Stamullen died in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda from a severe heard injury due to a farm accident and returned a verdict of accidental death. 

Mr Maguire extended sympathies to the family and said it was ‘an unfortunate tragic accident.’

His widow Kay said the family did not hold anything against anybody and it was an unfortunate accident.

Speaking afterwards she said the family want the other man involved to ‘continue his life, he has a wife and young children and is a lovely man.  We bear no ills against him.’

She said her husband was ‘a huge community worker,’ and would always help fundraising in the community.

Mr Howard was known for his involvement in cycling for many years and numerous tribute were paid to him at the time of his death