28-05-2025
GAA star 'may have fallen asleep at wheel' before fatal accident
The wife of a well-known Gaelic footballer and businessman fought back tears yesterday as she recalled her late husband bringing her breakfast in bed for her birthday on the day he died.
The inquest also heard that the man's death two years ago, in a single-vehicle collision, may have occurred after he fell asleep at the wheel due to tiredness.
Denis Kealy, 43, suffered fatal injuries when his Nissan Cabstar truck crashed into a tree on the R154 at Piercetown, Co. Meath, at around 2.30 pm on June 24, 2023. He was pronounced dead at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, Dublin, a short time later. Former GAA star and businessman Denis Kealy. Pic:
His wife, Charlene Kealy, told the inquest that Denis brought her a birthday breakfast in bed on the morning of the crash, before he went off to work. She said she had been celebrating with a number of her girlfriends later that day when she received a phone call about the tragic collision.
A father of three boys and managing director of building firm KeaMac, Mr Kealy was a former GAA player with Meath as well as his local club, Dunshaughlin.
At the inquest, Coroner Aisling Gannon observed that there were no witnesses to the collision, and the evidence had not been able to establish definitively what happened. Former GAA star and businessman Denis Kealy in 2006. Pic: Damien Eagers / SPORTSFILE
Forensic collision investigator Garda John Coughlan told Dublin District Coroner's Court the deceased's vehicle had crossed to the other side of the road 'for some undetermined reason' before mounting a grass verge and hitting a tree. A crash report established that the driver was not wearing a seatbelt.
Garda Coughlan said there was no evidence Mr Kealy had applied the vehicle's brakes at any stage during the incident. Having ruled out any environmental or vehicle factors to explain the crash, Garda Coughlan said he believed it was due to 'driver error' but could not be sure if it was because of 'a distraction or a medical event'.
A postmortem showed Mr Kealy died as a result of catastrophic brain injuries consistent with a road traffic collision, with no pre-existing health condition or alcohol or drugs present in his system that could have contributed to the fatal crash. Former GAA star and businessman Denis Kealy in 2006. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom Honan
Ms Kealy said that her husband had recently filled out a lifestyle form in which he complained of regularly feeling drowsy.
'That stuck out to me,' she remarked. Ms Kealy said she had no concerns about her husband's well-being or his mental health, but that he would sometimes shake his head to keep himself awake.
The inquest heard he had collected a new car the previous day and had arranged to bring his family to one of their favourite restaurants the following day.
Ms Kealy said her husband had taken a day off work to collect the car and that she believed he was 'trying to catch up' with work on the day of the crash.
The inquest heard that on the day before he died, Mr Kealy had gotten up at around 4.30 am and did not get home until 11 pm.
The deceased's wife said he went to bed at 11.30 pm but was up early the following day as he had sent an email at 6 am. Summing up the evidence, the coroner said there was nothing to indicate any intentional act by Mr Kealy in relation to the crash as the inquest had been told of 'significant future-focused acts', like the purchase of a new car and making a dinner reservation.
Ms Gannon noted suggestions that the deceased was 'significantly tired', which she said was a 'more probable' explanation for what may have happened.
Offering her condolences to Mr Kealy's family, the coroner recorded a verdict of death by misadventure, which she explained was because the death was due to an unintended act.
