Inquest date set for US honeymooner killed in crash near Dark Hedges

Connecticut teacher Michael Monroe died in the collision in north Antrim in September 2018, and his wife Caroline was injured.

Caroline Monroe was injured in a crash near Northern Ireland’s Dark Hedges, in which her husband Michael was killed (PSNI/PA) (PA Media)

An inquest for a US honeymooner killed in a car crash near a popular tourist destination in Northern Ireland is to be held in the summer, a court has heard.

Michael Monroe, from Orange, Connecticut, suffered fatal injuries in the September 2018 collision close to the Dark Hedges – a tree-lined avenue in north Antrim made famous by its appearance in TV’s Game Of Thrones.

The 31-year-old teacher’s wife, Caroline, was injured in the crash, which happened at the junction of Gracehill Road and Bregagh Road in Ballymoney.

We will try to factor in the time difference insofar as possible

Coroner Louisa Fee

The couple were honeymooning on the island of Ireland a year after their wedding.

At a preliminary hearing in Belfast, coroner Louisa Fee said the daily start time of the inquest in June would take account of the fact that Mrs Monroe would be participating virtually from the United States.

The inquest is set to run for three days between June 27 and June 29.

Addressing Mrs Monroe, who attended Thursday’s preliminary hearing virtually, the coroner said: “I appreciate that you will in all likelihood be attending remotely. We will try to factor in the time difference insofar as possible, so that it’s not unreasonable for you to be in attendance.”

Mrs Monroe thanked the coroner for that indication.

The short hearing was also told that Stormont’s Department of Infrastructure will prepare a report for the inquest on the safety measures at the junction where the crash happened, and the history and background of the intersection.

The crash happened at a junction close to the Dark Hedges (Niall Carson/PA) (PA Archive)

Police photos, sketches and video footage will also be produced as evidence, as will CCTV footage collected during the investigation.

The driver of the other vehicle involved in the collision did not attend Thursday’s pre-inquest hearing.

In the aftermath of the crash, a statement on behalf of the couple’s families described Mr Monroe as a “kind and loving man”.

The next preliminary inquest hearing is scheduled for April 14.