Limerick rapper said he was a 'good driver' before fatal crash
A WELL-KNOWN Limerick rapper “started messing with the steering wheel” before being involved in a fatal road traffic collision, an inquest has heard.
William Casey, better known as rapper Willzee, of O’Brien’s Bridge, County Clare previously received a 15-month prison term with the final 12 months suspended for careless driving causing the death of Christopher Moran.
The inquest into the death of Mr Moran, aged 27, of Johnsgate Village, Limerick city took place in Kilmallock Courthouse. The family of Mr Moran were notified of the date of the inquest and “chose not to attend”, the inquest heard.
The coroner’s court heard that Mr Casey told a garda at the scene of the collision that Mr Moran was the driver of the Volkswagen Passat.
In his deposition, Garda David Burke said he received a call regarding a road traffic collision on the road between O’Brien’s Bridge and Killaloe in the early hours of November 7, 2017.
The alarm was raised by an off-duty officer - formerly Detective garda and now Sergeant Michael Lambe - who was returning home from work.
Garda Burke saw four people with varying degrees of injuries and was told there was “one more in the car”.
He recalled Mr Casey was wearing a three-piece suit at the time.
The garda said Mr Moran was lying on his front beside the back right passenger door of the car which was in a field having left the road.
Garda Burke said he was “unconscious and breathing heavily”.
When an ambulance arrived the garda showed them where Mr Moran was.
A deposition from one of those in the vehicle on the night said they had been at a party where drink was consumed and “weed smoked” before it was decided to go into town.
The person said they told Mr Casey to “slow down” before the collision.
“William Casey said, ‘I’m a good driver’ and started messing with the steering wheel,” the person said in a deposition which was read out by Inspector Gearoid Thompson.
The inquest heard Mr Moran suffered “irreversible brain damage” and died on November 10, 2017.
Limerick coroner John McNamara said State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan was contacted due to concerns that criminal charges might follow. Dr Mulligan found that Mr Moran was “most likely an unrestrained back seat passenger”.
The cause of death was “blunt force trauma to the head”.
Mr McNamara, who returned a “narrative” verdict said it was a very serious road traffic collision involving five young people.
“Mr Moran sustained very serious injuries which he succumbed to a number of days later. I am aware the family chose not to attend which is entirely their prerogative.
“I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family,” said Mr McNamara.
Insp Thompson expressed his sympathies to the family on behalf of An Garda Siochana.