File on Death of Prison Officer in M50 Motorbike Crash to DPP

Dublin: So, there was this tragic incident on the M50 where a prison officer, Derek Martin, lost his life in a motorbike crash. It happened last year, and now the inquest has revealed that the file on the case will be sent to the DPP soon.

Derek, who was just 42 and worked at Wheatfield Prison, was involved in a collision with a lorry. The crash took place on May 17, 2024, and sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene. His family must be heartbroken.

During the inquest, his wife, Vanessa, had to identify his body, which must have been incredibly tough. A garda officer who was at the scene described finding Derek’s body on the motorway. The coroner mentioned that he died from a serious head injury.

The detective in charge asked for a six-month delay in the inquest because they’re looking into possible criminal charges. They expect to send the file to the DPP in about four weeks. The coroner agreed to this delay, which means the next hearing will be on July 7, 2025.

It’s just so sad, and the coroner expressed her condolences to Derek’s family. There’s also another case involving a cyclist in Co Leitrim that’s being looked into, which shows how serious these road incidents can be.