*Helga Himmelsbach. Photograph: John Mangan
A NORTH CLARE widow has written to the Minister for Transport to share her “deep frustration” on the failure to implement road safety improvements following the death of her husband in July.
Helga Himmelsbach of Lisdoonvarna contacted Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan (GP) in the days leading up to Christmas, her first without her husband Jerry O’Connor, repeating her calls for better road conditions in North Clare.
Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee (FG) has also been contacted by Helga regarding changes in legislation dealing with road traffic offences but was advised to get in touch with the Department of Transport.
Seventy one year old Jerry was pronounced dead at the scene on Thursday July 27th when the motorbike he was travelling on collided with a car on N67 in Ballyvaughan.
At Ennis District Court in the middle of November, Olivier Le Bozec appeared before the court charged in connection with Jerry’s death. Judge Alec Gabbett adjourned the case once again, this time to March 2024.
In her letter to Minister Ryan which has been obtained by The Clare Echo, Helga stated, “I am writing in deep frustration as still nothing has changed regarding road safety here for us in North Clare. Nearly every day I pass the site where my husband Jerry was killed. The accident black spot is still not highlighted and the ludicrous speed limit still not reduced”.
She said that on December 19th, “I was nearly killed myself as a hire car came around the bend on the wrong side of the road”.
Road policing is absent in the Burren, Helga flagged, “We are well aware as residents of the Burren that there has never been Garda check points on our secondary and local roads. Nor is they’re likely to be at this point in time. Speed checks have never been seen locally. When drivers are found guilty of road traffic offences, they’re not being charged”.
“Only adequate punishment and fear of consequences will make a lot of people compliant and have them adhere to the rules of the road- In particular when it is common knowledge that there are hardly any controls,” she added.
Criticism of the judicial system was also made by Helga. “While I am faced with Christmas on my own and having to contemplate where and how to bury my husband’s internal organs as they soon will be able for release by forensics. Meanwhile the man who killed my husband is free to celebrate Christmas with his family in France and has zero accountability. Not even his driving licence was taken from him. He hasn’t even been charged yet. So I am asking you, Minister, where is the justice for the person killed and for the one surviving the loss? The judicial system seems to favour the perpetrators of road traffic offences, not the victims. Only just laws can help in conjunction with all the other measures discussed to make our roads safer”.
“As the death toll on our roads still climbs I hope this will give you food for thought this Christmas season. May you find different gifts under the tree than the vital organs of your loved ones to hold dear,” her letter concluded.
