A jury has returned a verdict of accidental death at the inquest of a Cheltenham-winning young Irish jockey who died from injuries sustained in a fall at a race meeting in Co Tipperary more than a year ago.
O’Sullivan (24), from Brittas, Lombardstown, Co Cork, suffered a fatal fall at the final fence in a two-mile handicap chase at Thurles Racecourse aboard Wee Charlie on February 6th, 2025. He was airlifted to Cork University Hospital but died there on February 16th from his injuries.
Trainer Gerard O’Leary told Cork City Coroner’s Court that O’Sullivan had begun riding for him in 2024 and that he formed a good team with Wee Charlie, who had raced over fences six times, hurdles 16 times and once on the flat.
Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) vet Nicola O’Connor told how she had carried out a pre-race assessment of Wee Charlie on the day. Although he had an episode of exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage in 2023, the horse was in good condition and “fit to race”.
Jockey Sean Flanagan said he was leading the field of 13 runners after a slow start. They were approaching the last fence at full pace at about 62km/h, with several horses in contention, when he fell at the last fence.
