Prevention of Future Deaths Report after Connor Marron Inquest

The Senior Coroner for North London, Mr Andrew Walker, will issue a Prevention of Future Deaths report to Thames Water and Network Rail, in light of concerns arising from the inquest into the death of Connor Marron.

Connor Marron, 19, from County Antrim, Northern Ireland, died in the early hours of 2 January 2022 after he was struck by a train between Alexandra Palace and Hornsey stations. Connor was a talented sportsman and a university student. He had played for his local Gaelic football team, as well as competing nationally at snooker. 

Connor had travelled to London with a friend on New Year’s Day to watch the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace. It was the first time he had visited London. 

The inquest heard that Connor discovered his mobile phone was missing after leaving Alexandra Palace. He returned to look for it. The Coroner could not determine what happened between when Connor left his friend and the collision about an hour later. No CCTV was recovered that could shed any light on the final hour of his life.

The inquest heard that Connor was soaked from the waist down and was not wearing his trainers when he was struck by a train. His trainers have never been recovered. Connor may have passed through the New River, and a gap in a railway fence, before trying to cross the railway tracks between the two stations. The inquest heard evidence that the trains run quiet and the train CCTV shows that the tracks were dark. 

The Coroner recorded an open verdict. He intends to issue a Prevention of Future Deaths Report to Thames Water and Network Rail. His concerns were that the stretch of the New River next to the railway tracks is not illuminated and that there was discontinuity of the railway fence. The Coroner considers that there must be adequate lighting, signage, and fencing.

The family, who thanked the Coroner for his conduct of the inquest, said that they were “condemned to a lifetime of not knowing what happened to our beloved son”. 

Connor’s family were represented by Cian Murphy, instructed by Tara Mulcair of Birnberg Peirce.