A TRUCK driver, who drove through a stop-sign junction, seriously injuring rugby star Conor Murray’s father, Gerry Murray, was jailed for 10 months and banned from driving for three years.
Seamus Hanrahan (53), of Kilmore, Granagh, County Limerick, had previous convictions for drink driving, leaving the scene of a hit and run collision, and careless driving, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court heard.
Gerry Murray (70), of Patrickswell, was cycling home on the N20 Limerick to Cork road around 3pm on February 7, 2023, when Hanrahan, behind the wheel of an articulated truck which was pulling a slurry tanker, struck him.
Judge Colin Daly said Mr Murray “would most likely have been killed if he hadn’t been wearing his helmet” – which was significantly damaged in the collision.
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.
He 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, Limerick, relearning how to walk and talk.
Mr Murray wrote in a victim impact statement that, after he woke up from the coma, he spent the “next five weeks learning to walk and doing all the basic tasks in life”.
The extend of his injuries caused him to miss his son’s wedding.
Hanrahan pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing serious bodily harm to Mr Murray.
On the day, the father of three was driving his truck at approximately eight to 10km/h on approach to a T-junction on the N20.
Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley said Hanrahan “didn’t stop when he should have”, despite stop markings on the road and a red stop sign.
Ms Buckley said Jim Lynch, a local taxi driver, was a “crucial independent witness” who 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”.
The court heard Hanrahan remained at the scene, put his coat over Mr Murray to try to comfort him, and 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.
“Every time he closes his eyes, he sees Mr Murray lying on the ground,” added Ms Nix.
Judge Daly 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, 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 “one hundred per cent” wants “to get back on his bike” and move forward with his life.
