Dad of road death victim wants no more misery

The father of a tragic teenage road victim says he hopes no other family has to suffer like his has.

George Sadler Doherty, from Redcastle, was speaking about the loss of his daughter Georgia, whose inquest was held recently.

Georgia was only 13 years old when she died last year in a road traffic collision in Derry.

The inquest of Georgia’s death was held on December 9 past and heard that the car hit surface water, spun out of control, and collided with another vehicle.

Georgia died instantly due to multiple injuries.

Coroner Joe McCrisken raised concerns of insufficient water drainage on the road, causing rain to build up.

Georgia’s dad George has now welcomed a pledge by the Department of Infrastructure in Northern Ireland to “carefully examine” the coroner's report.

George said: “We welcome the decision by Infrastructure Northern Ireland, but it’s heartbreaking to know that budget cuts killed our wee girl.

“The area is an accident blackspot, so that should be prioritised, especially with the rain we get in this country.

“We don’t want another family to go through what we have.”

The accident took place on a stretch of the A6 road travelling as Georgia and her sister Lisa drove from Belfast towards Derry on February 22, 2015.

George added: “The accident wouldn’t have happened if the road wasn’t as wet. We all know that. It was said at the inquest.

“There was relief because up to that point, Lisa blamed herself. We weren’t blaming her, but she though it was her fault.

“It eased her shoulders, you could see her relax. Now, we are just trying to do the best that we can.

“But there is no Christmas without Georgia. She loved life.”

Georgia, who was a First Year pupil at Moville Community College, in Moville, Co Donegal, died after the accident in Derry on February 22, 2015.

The family called her their “happy go lucky superstar” and said that is how they will remember her.

Georgia played for Inishowen Under 14s at both soccer and Gaelic and her supported her hometown team Redcastle FC as well as Liverpool and Celtic.