The driver said due to heavy traffic in Drogheda he decided to continue the journey to the Mosney Accommodation Centre as there would be medics on-site.
An inquest into the death of a 35 year old Nigerian woman has heard how a bus driver ignored appeals by his passengers to turn around and go to Our Lady of Lourdes hospital, after she collapsed.
The reconvened hearing, in Ardee, was told that passengers had performed CPR as the bus continued its journey to the Mosney Accommodation Centre, where it was met by an ambulance, after one of those on board called 999.
Maureen Sedi, who was a resident at Mosney Village, had run to catch the bus on the Dublin Road in Drogheda on November 30th 2022 between 1.40 and 1.45pm. The service is provided by a private bus contractor.
In depositions, three passengers told how she had been out of breath, and sat at the entrance to the bus to catch her breath, but the driver said he couldn't wait and told her to take a seat.
However, the married mother of three young children became breathless before reaching the Southgate roundabout, and despite them telling the driver to stop or turn back, they said he was adamant he was going to Mosney.
One of the passengers called 999 and with Maureen on the floor as the bus continued its journey, the call taker gave CPR instructions over the mobile phone's speaker.
They were met by an ambulance on arrival at Mosney, where paramedics attended her, before taking her to Our Lady of Lourdes hospital where resuscitation attempts continued in the E.D but were unsuccessful.
In his deposition, the bus driver said he'd assumed the passenger was out of breath from walking up the hill with shopping.
He claimed he pulled in and due to what he called heavy school traffic, he made the decision to drive to Mosney as he would get there quicker and there are medics on site. He said he didn't phone an ambulance as his thoughts were to get to Mosney "as quick as possible".
Louth County Coroner Ronan Maguire noted Ms. Sedi had become distressed three minutes after the journey began and had to lie down and if the bus driver had called 999 he would have been advised whether to stop and wait for an ambulance but he didn't. "He made his way to Mosney and the reality is he wasn't a million miles away from Our Lady of Lourdes hospital from where the ambulance would have come".
The solicitor who represented the bus driver stressed that her client is not permitted to take or make phone calls while in transit.
However, Mr Maguire pointed out the company's own rules state that a driver should check if anyone needs medical attention.
The solicitor asked the coroner to record a verdict of death by natural causes.
Mr Maguire recorded a narrative verdict of sudden cardiac death with the primary cause myocardial fibrosis and ischemic heart disease and explained that myochardial fibrosis occurs when you've had a previous heart attack.
The coroner then expressed his heartfelt sympathy to Ms. Sedi's husband and family saying "She was so young".
