A Garda has revealed how phone records of a driver involved in a fatal car crash in Inishowen had received a mobile call at the time.
Garda Fiona McFadden was giving evidence at the inquest of Maura Porter at Buncrana Courthouse.
The 70-year-old woman died from injuries sustained when she was struck by a car in Carndonagh on December 30th, 2013.
Garda McFadden gave evidence that Eircom phone records showed that the driver Austin Stewart, now 49, received a phonecall at 17.41pm.
The inquest heard how the call inbound to Mr Stewart’s mobile phone was from a landline from his employer in Letterkenny and lasted 12 seconds.
No evidence was given to determine if the incoming call was answered.
The outbound 999 call to the emergency services by Mr Stewart lasted for 35 minutes and was made at 17.41pm, according to Garda McFadden who viewed the phone a short time later.
However, Eircom records show no history of a 999 call being made on Mr Stewart’s phone at the time.
Garda McFadden added that “a number of months later” the phone was sent for analysis to the Garda technical bureau.
However, this showed that no calls were logged for the phone at all between November, 18th, 2013 and January 27th, 2014.
Garda McFadden was questioned by coroner Dr Denis McCauley who asked if she thought the call was received before or after the accident.
She replied that she believes the call was made ‘before or during’ the incident.
Evidence heard yesterday revealed how it took 50 minutes for the emergency ambulance to reach Mrs Port in Carndonagh after it traveled from Letterkenny.
The inquest continues and is expected to conclude today.
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