Mr McMahon’s niece told the inquest her uncle was a “gentle and caring individual”, who loved his two dogs and Manchester United
A cyclist from North Belfast believed a lorry was not turning left just seconds before a fatal crash, the coroner has found.
Gary McMahon died at the scene after being hit by a lorry on Clifton Street on the morning of November 21, 2024. An inquest into his death heard that the 58-year-old stopped at a crossing, but tried to cross the road before the pedestrian light turned green.
At this time, he was hit by a lorry as it was making a left turn onto the Westlink. The court heard the driver had been driving carefully and made all necessary checks, but given the vehicle’s wider turning circle, Mr McMahon may have mistakenly believed it was going to continue in a straight line towards the city centre.
READ MORE: Clifton Street Belfast crash claims life of male cyclistREAD MORE: Gary McMahon named by PSNI as victim of Clifton Street collision
Once he realised his error, it was too late for Mr McMahon to react and he could not take evasive action to avoid the collision. Despite attempts at resuscitation, he was declared dead at the scene.
Mr McMahon’s niece, Yvonne Connolly, told the inquest her uncle was a “gentle and caring individual”, who loved his two dogs and Manchester United. She said he cycled to and from work each day and had done so for many years.
She said her uncle’s loss was “deeply felt” by the whole family and the wider cycling community, who had placed a ghost bike at the collision spot in his memory.
The driver of the lorry, Charlotte Mulholland, said she had conducted all her regular checks of the lorry that morning, explaining there was a safety system attached to warn cyclists and pedestrians.
However, she said she was unaware it was not working as intended at the time, regarding the audible warning that should have loudly emitted on the exterior of the cab.
As she approached the Westlink junction, she noticed a cyclist waiting at the pedestrian junction. She began turning towards the Westlink, which required her to take up part of both lanes.
Checking her mirrors and driving at 8mph, she explained that lorry drivers will naturally have blind spots in their vision. After becoming aware of her vehicle hitting something, she exited the lorry and got out to assist.
The driver was on a handsfree phone call at the time of the crash, but Constable Stephen Dickson with the PSNI’s collision investigation unit told the inquest CCTV footage from the area showed Ms Mulholland “does not appear to be distracted.”
The court heard that while Mr McMahon may have briefly been visible in some of the lorry’s monitor screen and some rear-view mirrors, it would have been difficult for the driver to notice him when making the turn.
The warning system in place in the lorry at that time would not discriminate between cyclists and inanimate objects in blind spots, such as railings, buildings, or parked cars. However, a more advanced version of the system is now being used.
A witness to the crash, Mark Mullan, was waiting at the pedestrian crossing with Mr McMahon before the crash. He confirmed the red man for pedestrians was illuminated at the time.
He explained that Mr McMahon had reached about three quarters of the way across when he was hit by the lorry. Mr Mullan explained the driver was clearly upset, and said “where did he come from?” when she exited the vehicle.
Gemma Morrison had been travelling with her husband in a car behind the lorry involved at the time. She said in her view, the lorry driver “did everything right” for the type of turn, and believed the left indicator was on.
Ms Morrison said she “couldn’t understand why” Mr McMahon attempted to cross the road when he did.
Emerson Callender, a forensic scientist, produced a report into the circumstances of the collision. He said the fact the lorry had to drive partially past the opening to the onslip and partially into the next lane to safely complete the left turn onto the onslip, meant Mr McMahon “may have misinterpreted the lorry’s actions”, believing it was travelling straight ahead rather than left.
Mr Callender said CCTV footage suggested he realised this error and attempted to take evasive action shortly before the collision. He said the lorry’s cycle sense safety system should have provided an audible warning if objects were close to the near side of the cab when indicators were activated.
However, Mr Callender found the system was “ineffective” as the warning sounded in response to many surrounding objects, including buildings, not just in response to pedestrians or cyclists, greatly reducting the effectiveness in alerting the driver.
A newer version of the system only provides a warning when a person or cyclist is detected. The lorry’s system also had a loud recorded message warning pedestrians and cyclists of the vehicle turning.
However, Mr Callender said the message was “very faint and barely audible”, due to a fault possibly caused by previous power washing of the lorry.
Giving evidence, Constable Stephen Dickson said cyclists need to be more careful around large vehicles. In his view, he said the driver made “all the appropriate checks” for such a manoeuvre.
He said: “Sadly we see too many of these cases with cyclists and large vehicles. There’s a perception among pedestrians and cyclists they are more easily seen than they are.”
Constable Dickson said legislation in the Greater London area to make additional safety systems to alert both lorry drivers and pedestrians and cyclists should be introduced in Northern Ireland to reduce the number of deaths in such circumstances.
The coroner found that the cause of Mr McMahon’s death was chest and abdominal injuries due to a road traffic collision. Concluding the inquest, the coroner called for pedestrians and cyclists to exercise “extra care” around lorries, while calling for drivers to be aware.
She said: “At a time of increased take up of cycling, which of course is beneficial both in terms of exercise and the environment, this inquest underscores the dangers which exist to cyclists and pedestrians alike arising from blind spots in the driver’s view in large goods vehicles which are caused by the very nature of their size.
“It is clear there are additional difficulties for lorry drivers to safely manoeuvre such large vehicles safely on the roads, whilst also trying to detect additional hazards such as pedestrians and cyclists due to the nature of these blind spots that have been so amply evidenced in this and other inquests.
“The public should be aware that as a cyclist or a pedestrian, you are a particularly vulnerable road user. In particular, cyclists in a country that does not yet have comprehensive cycle path network.
“I stress that just because you can see the lorry does not mean the lorry can see you. I would encourage any pedestrian or cyclist to exercise extra care around such vehicles and to make themselves aware of the limitations of their field of vision.
“Measures such as wearing suitable reflective clothing and helmets while cycling, having appropriate lighting on bikes, and attempting to draw the notice of the lorry and other drivers will assist in keeping you safe while cycling.
“Likewise, it is important for drivers of both cars and in particular lorries and large vehicles to be aware of the presence of cyclists and pedestrians on our roads.
“The inquest also heard of additional safety measures that can be taken by companies to fit lorries with systems that can help drivers detect pedestrians or cyclists and alert pedestrians and cyclists to the lorries movements.
“Such safety measures, if working correctly, can only help to drive down collision numbers and the tragic deaths that are increasingly arising and making the sharing of our roads safer for all those involved. If you already have such safety features fitted, I would urge you to check they are working correctly and as intended.”
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
