Truck driver jailed after careless driving seriously injured father of Conor Murray

David Raleigh

A truck driver who drove through a stop sign and seriously injured rugby star Conor Murray’s father has been jailed for 10 months and banned from driving for three years.

Seamus Hanrahan (53), of Kilmore, Granagh, Co Limerick, had previous convictions for drink driving, leaving the scene of a hit-and-run collision and careless driving, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court heard on Friday.

Gerry Murray (70), of Patrickswell in Limerick, was cycling home at about 3pm on February 7th, 2023, when Hanrahan, behind the wheel of an articulated truck which was pulling a slurry tanker, struck him.

Judge Colin Dally said Mr Murray “would most likely have been killed if he hadn’t been wearing his helmet”. The helmet had been significantly damaged in the collision, it was heard.

Mr Murray, married to former Irish international squash player Barbara Murray, was rushed by ambulance from the scene to University Hospital Limerick (UHL), where doctors diagnosed him with a “severe traumatic brain injury”, a fractured skull and bleeds to his brain.

The rugby-mad dad was transferred to Cork University Hospital (CUH) and placed into a medically-induced coma.

In total, Mr Murray spent six weeks at CUH and a further 10 days at St Camillus’ Hospital in Limerick, and relearned how to walk and talk.

Mr Murray wrote in a victim impact statement that, after he woke up from the medical coma he spent the “next five weeks learning to walk and doing all the basic tasks in life”.

“I have constant tinnitus and have lost my hearing in my left ear, and I missed my son’s wedding abroad.”

“Life for me has completely changed and I have been trying hard to get back to pre-accident days, but there is a long [road] ahead as I am still having rehab for an indefinite of time.”

Mr Murray thanked his family, paramedics, staff at UHL, CUH and St Camillus’ Hospital “where the care and support I got was exceptional”.

Hanrahan pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing serious bodily harm to Mr Murray, at the N20 Limerick to Cork road, on February 7th, 2023.

On the day, the father of three from a well-known pig-farming family in Co Limerick, was driving his truck at approximately 8-10km/h on approach to a T-Junction on the N20.

Prosecuting barrister, Lily Buckley BL, said Hanrahan “didn't stop when he should have” at the junction, despite stop markings on the road and a red stop sign erected at the scene.

Ms Buckley said Jim Lynch, a local taxi driver, was a “crucial independent witness” as he had observed Mr Hanrahan failing to stop at the junction.

Mr Lynch told gardaí he saw Mr Murray’s bike being “thrown out onto the road” and that Mr Murray was “not talking, and lying on the side of the road”.

Hanrahan remained at the scene, put his coat over Mr Murray to try to comfort him, and he passed a roadside breathalyzer test.

Hanrahan told gardaí he did stop at the junction, that he looked left and right, but he said he did not see Mr Murray.

Ms Buckley argued that Hanrahan’s statement “did not appear” to tally with Mr Lynch’s statement to gardaí.

Hanrahan’s barrister, Amy Nix BL, asked the court to consider in mitigation that Hanrahan had family responsibilities which required him to be able to drive, and described him as an “upstanding hard working member of his local community”.

“He is carrying the guilt with him everywhere, he wishes he could wind back the clock and prevent Mr Murray’s injuries. He has held up his hands, he wishes to apologise publicly to Mr Murray,” said Ms Nix.

“It was a momentary lapse of concentration, which had devastating consequences. Every time he closes his eyes, he sees Mr Murray lying on the ground,” added Ms Nix.

Judge Daly said Hanrahan “slowed but failed to stop” at the junction, and he executed a right turn onto the road colliding with Gerry Murray “tossing him off his bike”.

The judge said Hanrahan’s driving had a “significant impact” on Mr Murray and his family, and that Hanrahan “did not take care to ensure the road was clear”.

“There was a high degrees of carelessness and it is difficult to see how he [Hanrahan] failed to see Mr Murray travelling on his bicycle.

The judge said it appeared that previous fines and road bans imposed on Hanrahan for driving convictions had not deterred him from driving carelessly: “It appears lessons were not learned.”

The judge considered a headline sentence of 18 months, which he reduced to 10 months, stating he was “satisfied” the threshold for a custodial sentence had been met.

Speaking outside the court afterwards, Mr Murray said he was “pleased” with the sentence on Hanrahan.

“Cyclists are so vulnerable, and only for my helmet, as the judge said, I wouldn't be talking to you here now.”

Mr Murray said he “100 per cent” wants “to get back on his bike” and move forward with his life.