Nun's tragic death an accident

12 March 2010

A NUN, who was knocked down in a minor road accident yards from her convent during "a moment's lapse in concentration", died later in hospital from pneumonia.

Sister Claire, 73, walked into the path of a black Peugeot 307 in St Mary's Lane, Upminster, on February 19 last year while hurrying to catch a bus, Walthamstow Coroner's Court heard.

Michael Moran, a passenger in the car, said: "She just got to the pavement, she looked in the opposite direction and came straight out onto the road. I shouted 'No!'"

Though the car was travelling at no more than 20mph, well below the speed limit, the force of the impact knocked the nun out of her shoes.

Driving the car behind, witness Kelly Woodhouse said: "I heard what I can only describe as an almighty thud, then I saw a body flying through the air."

Sister Claire, a housekeeper at The Convent Sacred Heart, suffered a broken collar bone and pelvis and was taken Queen's Hospital, in Rom Valley Way, Romford.

From her hospital bed Sister Claire, who had early-stage Parkinson's disease, told another nun the section of road was "an easy place to cross" and admitted the accident was her fault for not looking before she stepped out.

Sister Claire was expected "by everybody" to make a full recovery, coroner Dr Elizabeth Stearns said, and arrangements were made to transfer her for rehabilitation at St George's Hospital in Suttons Lane, Hornchurch.

But on February 24 things took a turn for the worse after she picked up a chest infection - exacerbated by the injuries near her lungs and an underlying urinary tract infection.

Despite care from a team of specialists, she died on March 7.

"Initially she was found to be doing well," said Dr Stearns, "she then developed, quite rapidly, severe pneumonia. Her problems stemmed from the original road traffic accident. She just had a moment's lapse of concentration." She added: "This is a very sad accident."

Sister Claire was born Agnes Ronan in Country Clare, Ireland, and worked in the religious community all her life.

Verdict: Accidental death.