Tyrone woman in agony as inquest into son’s death still not held

A TYRONE mother whose son was killed in tragic circumstances on the M1 motorway over five years ago has spoken out about the ‘torture’ of the interminable wait for an inquest into his death.

Edwina Thompson-Clarke says she has been engulfed by an all-consuming cycle of hope and despair since her 22-year-old son Darryl was fatally struck by a car on a section of the M1, near Dungannon, in November 2018.

Mrs Thompson-Clarke has been prompted to speak out by recent news that an inquest into the death of Matthew McCallan, a 15-year-old Dungannon boy who was found dead following a night out in Fintona almost two years ago, has ‘no prospect’ of beginning before the end of the year.

The grieving mother said, “My heart goes out to Frances (McCallan) – I hope she does not have to wait as long as we have had to.”

Just before his death, Darryl had been travelling in a car with several others, when an altercation broke out, causing the driver to pull in and the occupants to get out.

Moments after exiting the vehicle, Darryl was dead on the motorway. However, the details that led up to his tragic end are yet to be established.

“We are into year six now from when I lost my beautiful son and I am still waiting. No date as of yet has been set for an inquest into his death.”

Mrs Thompson-Clarke and her daughter Katie have sat through three preliminary hearings thus far, none of which have succeeded in setting a date for a Coroner’s inquiry into Darryl’s death.

“The next one is scheduled for June and I hope that it is the last; it is not fair on families learning to live without a child to have this convoluted and costly legal process hanging over their heads.”

Mrs Thompson-Clarke explained that her legal bills are likely to run in excess of £10,000, a fact which has only compounded her psychosocial suffering.

“It is an horrendous, heartbreaking wait that makes you sick in the pit of your stomach. I was told at the time that it could possibly be two, maybe three, years.

“On top of all that, I have had to pay all this money, and there will be plenty more to pay before it is all over.

“I am probably going to have to get a second job.”

Mrs Thompson-Clarke then explained the conflicted feelings she has towards an inquest.

“On one hand, it represents the only chance I have of finding out what happened to my son. On the other, I will be be forced to relive the darkest days of my life, with no promise that any light will ultimately be shed on what happened Darryl on the day he died.

“Now, to have come this far and to have to go back to day one, it will be like going through every second of it all over again. We will have to see pictures of Darryl at the end of his life, hear all the details of his death, look at the boys who were there when he died, and who knows what else.

“You shouldn’t have to go through this so many years later. I just hope I am strong enough to get through it again. I hope I don’t have a nervous breakdown. People have told me that hoping is the worst thing I can do, but what else are you meant to do?

“I hope we get a date for this year. I hope we get some answers, but I am not convinced we will. It is like I am living in the hope of something I don’t really even think I am going to get.”

CONDOLENCES

Mrs Thompson-Clarke concluded by offering her condolences to the family of Matthew McCallan.

“I hope Matthew’s parents and family get the answers they need and soon; they deserve a wee bit of peace. Please God, Frances doesn’t have to wait as long as I have, it literally takes all your energy to get through the day. It’s just utterly heartbreaking, the waiting is indescribable.”

During a recent preliminary hearing regarding the death of Mr McCallan, the Coroner emphasised the importance of expediting his inquest, particularly for his parents’ sake.

A further preliminary hearing is anticipated before the summer to provide updates on disclosure, the list of witnesses, and other relevant issues.