Anderson inquest adjourned

At Coleraine Courthouse on Wednesday coroner Brian Sherrard agreed to a request from Mr Anderson’s family to adjourn proceedings until January

The 42-year-old died after a crash at Tornagrough, Hannahstown, just outside Bellfast, on Easter Sunday this year.

Theinquest heard from Mr Anderson’s partner of 25 years, Deborah McGraw, his brother John, eye-witnesses from the scene, and a forensic scientist.

Ms McGraw, who has two children with her partner, told the hearing he had a love of bikes from a very young age.

“He had always been interested in bikes, he never lost that,” she said. “He worked for Harley Davidson in Antrim before staring his own business delivering motorcycles after it had closed a few years ago.

William McDowell, who met up with Mr Anderson and several other riders in Ballycastle before they made their way to the Tornagrough Road, which is part of the Dundrod circuit, said he was first on the scene following the accident.

“There was a broken down van in our lane, as Davy was on my right hand-side he was able to see if the road was clear and pass it before me.

“When I passed the van I couldn’t see him, but as I went round the bend I noticed a bike at the side of the road.

“I parked up and ran over, it was then I realised it was Davy. He was lying up against the fence. I was first there and then a woman and some of our group arrived.

“We called out his name and squeezed his hand, but there was no response.”

Ms Anne-Marie McCormick, who stopped at the scene as she made her way home, confirmed she phoned the emergency services.

“When I arrived the accident just seemed to have happened, everyone seemed so shocked,” she said.

Forensic Scientist Gavin Dunn said Mr Anderson’s motorcycle had crossed the carriageway into the other lane before leaving the road as he went around the bend. He added the bike ‘under severe braking’ hit loose stones at the side of the road, which caused the wheels to lock up and throw Mr Anderson from the bike. The post mortem confirmed Mr Anderson had died due to a chest injury caused by the accident after he collided with the fence.