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Irish Times
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Jockey Michael O'Sullivan died of severe brain trauma, inquest hears
Cheltenham Festival winning jockey Michael O'Sullivan died of a severe traumatic brain injury complicated by swelling with cerebral infarction due to a horse riding accident, his inquest has heard. Cork Coroner's Court heard brief evidence on Thursday from Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, as to the cause of death of the 24-year-old on February 16th last. Dr Bolster carried out a postmortem on Mr O'Sullivan at Cork City Mortuary the day after his death. Mr O'Sullivan of Currabower, Lombardstown, Co Cork died at Cork University Hospital after what his family had previously described as a 'Trojan battle' to recover from his injuries. READ MORE He was airlifted to hospital on February 6th following a serious last fence fall in Thurles, Co Tipperary. He was just days short of his 25th birthday when he died ten days later. Sergeant Aisling Murphy requested an adjournment of the inquest to facilitate 'preparatory work'. Cork City Coroner Philip Comyn said the inquest was being opened for the purpose of hearing medical evidence on the cause of death so that a death certificate could be issued to the family. Justin Walsh, an inspector from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), was present at the hearing and confirmed its investigation was yet to be completed. Solicitor Denis Linehan, who represents the O'Sullivan family, was also in attendance. A full hearing of the case will take place at a later date. Mr O'Sullivan is survived by his parents William and Bernie, his brother Alan, partner Charlotte, and grandmother Mary. He shot to public attention two years ago when he won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham aboard Marine Nationale before going on to win the Fred Winter with Jazzy Matty. Huge crowds attended his funeral at St John the Baptist Church in Glantane, Co Cork in February. His father William told mourners that Michael would want his loved ones to find joy in life in spite of his death. He said Michael had his heart set on becoming a jockey from an early age and noted that even though his son had managed to receive an honours degree in agricultural science from University College Dublin, they had it on 'good authority' he read the Racing Post during lectures. Mr O'Sullivan's brother Alan and cousins David O'Sullivan and Sonny McCartan recently took part in the Cork City Marathon to raise funds for Brú Columbanus, a charity that offers free accommodation to families of seriously ill patients in Cork hospitals. They decided to raise funds for a site in Wilton, Cork as it was a 'safe haven' for the O'Sullivan family when Michael was in intensive care. Over €94,000 has been raised for the charity arising out of the fundraising appeal.
BreakingNews.ie
12-06-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Jockey Michael O'Sullivan (24) died of a severe traumatic brain injury, inquest hears
Cheltenham festival-winning jockey Michael O'Sullivan died of a severe traumatic brain injury, complicated by brain swelling with cerebral infarction, due to a horse riding accident, his inquest has heard. Cork Coroner's Court heard brief evidence on Thursday morning from Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, as to the cause of the death of the 24-year-old on February 16th last. Advertisement Dr Bolster carried out a postmortem on Mr O'Sullivan at Cork City Mortuary a day after his death. Mr O'Sullivan of Currabower, Lombardstown, Co Cork, died at Cork University Hospital after what his family previously described as a 'trojan battle' to recover from his injuries. Michael was airlifted to hospital on February 6th last following a serious last fence fall in Thurles, Co Tipperary. He was just days short of his 25th birthday when he passed away 10 days later. Sgt Aisling Murphy requested an adjournment of the inquest in to the death of the champion jockey to facilitate 'preparatory work.' Advertisement Cork City Coroner Philip Comyn said the inquest was being opened for the purpose of hearing medical evidence on the cause of death so that a death certificate could be issued to the family of the deceased. Inspector Justin Walsh from the Health and Safety Authority was present at the hearing. He confirmed that their investigation in to the death is yet to be completed. Solicitor Denis Linehan, who represents the O'Sullivan family, was also in attendance at the inquest. He will be on the record for the family going forward. A full hearing of the case will take place at a later date. Michael is survived by his parents William and Bernie, his brother Alan, his partner Charlotte, his grandmother Mary, uncles and aunts, his weigh room colleagues and the wider racing community and extended family and friends. Advertisement Michael shot to public attention two years ago when he won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham aboard Marine Nationale before going on to win the Fred Winter with Jazzy Matty. Huge crowds attended his funeral at St John the Baptist Church in Glantane, Co Cork, on February 19th. His father William told mourners. that Michael would want his loved ones to find joy in life in spite of his passing. Ireland Construction of Leinster House bike shed was halte... Read More He said that Michael had his heart set on beimg a jockey from an early age. He noted that even though Michael had managed to receive a honours degree in Agricultural Science they had it on 'good authority' that he read the Racing Post during lectures in UCD. Advertisement Meanwhile, Michael's brother Alan and his cousins David O'Sullivan and Sonny McCartan recently took part in the Cork City Marathon to raise funds for Brú Columbanus, a charity that offers free accommodation to families of seriously ill patients in Cork hospitals. They decided to raise funds for the site in Wilton in Cork as it was a 'safe haven' for the O'Sullivan family when Michael was in intensive care. Over €94,000 has been raised for the charity arising out of the fundraising appeal. Donations can still be made online.
Irish Examiner
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
O'Sullivan finishes with a flourish with Listowel double
Lombardstown trainer Eugene O'Sullivan left it late to make his mark on the final day of Listowel's three-day meeting, but made up for lost time with a fine double in the last two races, both owned by Jack Singleton. Bugs Moran contested the Beasley Engineering Hunters' Chase, and the eight-year-old benefited from a fine front-running ride by Mick Kenneally. A useful sort when with Noel Meade, he is lightly raced over fences and is just the type to excel in this sphere. 'He's a lovely horse to get,' said O'Sullivan. 'He's rated in the 130s over hurdles and I got him with the intention of running him in the Foxhunters but didn't have him qualified in time. 'Jumping is what it's all about, and Mick gave him a great ride. In Mallow, he made a mistake at the first, and in Killarney he made three or four mistakes, but it's just experience he needs. I'm not sure what we'll do with him yet, but I'd like to plan towards Cheltenham next year. He's not the fastest horse but he'll stay all day.' The final race of the three-day meeting was the Bryan MacMahon Bumper and Themanintheanorak made a winning track debut under a confident ride by the trainer's nephew, Alan O'Sullivan. Well-backed favourite Additional Time dropped out of contention racing down the back, leaving Angelo Dundee to trade short in running, but all the while Themanintheanorak crept into contention, and once hitting the front he won as he pleased. 'Delighted with that,' said O'Sullivan. 'He's another nice horse to have, and Alan gave him a great ride. He fell in two of his point-to-points but he's not a bad jumper, and he has plenty of scope and will improve away.' Paul Townend travelled to the meeting for two rides and also completed a double, both for Willie Mullins. In neither case was there much to concern connections, particularly with Blood Destiny, who earned a long overdue return to winning ways in the John J. Galvin Chase. At odds of 1-8, nothing but a Monday stroll was expected, and Townend ensured it was thus. In front from flag fall, he sent his mount clear down the back, and getting in close to the final fence was all that kept it interesting. 'He enjoyed it, and winning will do him the world of good,' said Townend. 'He handled the ground well enough and did what he was expected to do. The last was big when we were coming to it, just because we were getting it so easy. 'I don't know if he's going to stay going or if he'll be left off. He's not old and he has other career options, not just farming these races. He's a horse with good form, but he's just hard to win with.' La Note Verte was all the rage in the market for the Nora Canty Mares' Maiden Hurdle and the five-year-old, having her first run since winning a bumper at this meeting in 2024, also delivered for Mullins and Townend with little fuss. Available at 6-4 in the overnight market and sent off 4-7, she raced in a prominent position, went to the front early in the straight, and won readily despite patent signs of greenness. Townend said: 'She likes it around here, and it wasn't the deepest of races, but she jumped like a buck, and that's her asset. She'll have to improve on that to be competitive through the summer, but her jumping should bring her a long way.' The Tony Martin-trained Day Trader, who showed real promise on his hurdling debut but disappointed when turned out just six days later, got off the mark at the third time of asking when winning the John B. Keane Maiden Hurdle under Daniel King. The lightly-raced Patty O'Farrell has shown improved form since going handicapping and Peter Maher's mare made the breakthrough over timber when taking the Southern Waste Management Mares' Handicap Hurdle in grand style. Never far off the pace under a smart ride by Sean O'Keeffe, the seven-year-old led two out and didn't have to be fully extended to beat the staying-on Katherine. Stuntman Steve gained a much deserved second success over hurdles when taking the Join Racing TV With A Free Trial Now Handicap Hurdle. Having run well in handicaps on consecutive days at the Easter festival in Fairyhouse and again when fourth in a good race at Killarney, he was popular in the betting this time. The 11-4 favourite, which Seán Flanagan rode for Gavin Cromwell, was under pressure from a long way out but responded well and won a shade comfortably.
