Parents of fall-victim son call for safety shake-up

The plea came as a coroner's inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death for Caolan Mulrooney (18) who died after he vaulted over a 1.5-metre wall on December 2 last as he walked home from a student Christmas party -- unaware that there was a steep 10-metre drop on the other side.

His father today described him as "an incredible young man -- intelligent, fun, great guy, great son and a great friend".

Incredibly, a man died at the same spot in a similar tragedy 60 years before.

Caolan -- who had just left Cubin's Nightclub in Cork -- had taken a wrong turning as he headed home to Rochestown and appeared to be attempting a short cut to correct his route.

The wall at the end of the cul-de-sac was covered in ivy and there was nothing to indicate the drop on its other side.

Catastrophic

The teen suffered catastrophic skull, brain and neck injuries in the fall and died almost immediately.

The inquest jury yesterday issued a recommendation that Cork City Council "carry out a full review of all split-level sites that pose a hazard to the public in Cork".

Caolan's parents, Eugene and Margaret, told the Herald that they want to see the risk assessment commence immediately because they don't want any other family to endure their pain.

hnews@herald.ie