A car salesman trapped underwater in a car by a customer who drove off a pier yesterday told an inquest he only realised the man was "on a suicide mission" as they went over the side.
Richard Byrne (45) of Chanel Road, Artane, Dublin 5, drowned after he drove a red MINI Cooper he was taking for a test drive into the sea in Howth on July 13, 2010.
Jeremy Beshoff, the owner of Beshoff Motors in Howth, was a front-seat passenger in the car at the time and managed to escape from the submerged vehicle.
Recalling the terrifying episode at Dublin City Coroner's Court yesterday, Mr Beshoff said Mr Byrne let the clutch out and accelerated hard, driving the car over the side between two boats.
"This happened so quickly I only realised when we were going over the side that Mr Byrne was on a suicide mission."
[...]
"What isn't really explained is why Richard should have involved Mr Beshoff at all," [Coroner Dr Brian Farrell] said. Some time after the incident, Mr Beshoff suggested that "maybe he wanted someone with him because he was too scared to do it on his own".
[Belfast Telegraph]
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