Farmer jailed over road crash which left father of Irish rugby player in induced coma

A farmer whose careless driving caused life-threatening injuries to the father of Munster and Ireland rugby star Conor Murray, was jailed for 10 months this Friday.

Gerry Murray, aged 70, suffered a traumatic head injury and was placed in an induced coma after he was knocked off his bicycle only 1km from his home in Patrickswell, County Limerick on the afternoon of February 7, 2023.

Seamus Hanrahan, aged 53, of Kilmore, Granagh, County Limerick pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm to Mr Murray.

Evidence in the case was heard at Limerick Criminal Circuit Court last month. It was adjourned to this Friday for Judge Colin Daly to pass sentence.

Mr Hanrahan was driving a truck pulling a slurry tanker, while Mr Murray was on a bicycle when the incident occurred on the M20 at Attyflin, Patrickswell.

Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by State solicitor Brendan Gill, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Garda Brian O’Leary at a sentencing hearing last month.

On Thursday, April 10, Ms Buckley said Mr Hanrahan was driving a truck and slurry tanker on the slip road coming off the N21 and onto the N20.

“An independent witness said the driver slowed down but did not stop at the stop sign. He saw a bike being thrown out onto the road. Paramedics were called. Mr Murray’s helmet was extensively damaged and he suffered a significant head injury. There was no damage to the bicycle.

"Mr Murray was taken to University Hospital Limerick and then transferred to Cork University Hospital after his condition deteriorated. He suffered a traumatic brain injury. He was sedated, intubated and ventilated. He was put in an induced coma,” said Ms Buckley.

READ MORE: 'Do not eat!' Warning issued as 'unsafe' meat product is removed from Irish supermarkets

The court heard Mr Hanrahan was travelling at a maximum speed of 8kmph and stopped after he heard a bang.

Ms Buckley said Mr Murray spent six weeks in Cork University Hospital followed by 10 days in Camillus’ for physiotherapy and speech and language therapy. 

“He has lost hearing totally in his left ear and has hearing loss in his right ear. He has shoulder and elbow pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. A hearing aid assessment found a hearing aid was going to make no difference to his hearing loss or tinnitus,” said Ms Buckley, who spoke of the effect of the collision on Mr Murray’s quality of life.

The prosecuting barrister said Mr Hanrahan has previous convictions for careless driving, failing to remain at the scene of a collision and drink driving.

Ms Buckley read out Mr Murray’s victim impact statement in which he detailed the effect of the collision on him and his family.

“The feeling of guilt I felt for my wife and three children was to cause a lot of anxiety for us as a family as I continue to think what they went through while I was in a coma and not knowing if I would survive.

“My son got married some time later but unfortunately I had been advised not to fly because of the fractures to my skull so I missed what was a major family event. I have an intensive physiotherapy regime which is still ongoing. Life for me has completely changed and I've been trying hard to get back to pre-accident days, but there's a long period of time ahead. I still have rehab for an indefinite time. 

“I have to include my family as victims of this accident and thank them for being there for me," read out Ms Buckley on behalf of Mr Murray (pictured below with son Conor), who also thanked paramedics and staff in UHL, CUH and St Camillus'.

Amy Nix, barrister for Mr Hanrahan who is a pig and dairy farmer, submitted to Judge Daly that there was a high degree of harm but a low degree of culpability. 

“He has held his hands up, accepted responsibility and is genuinely remorseful for the injuries caused to Mr Murray,” said Ms Nix.

She said her client was alcohol and drug free on the date in question and was travelling at less than 8kmph.

“Mr Hanrahan has instructed me to apologise to Mr Murray. It was a momentary lapse in concentration which had devastating effects.

"Mr Hanrahan did not see Mr Murray. I am instructed he looked left and looked right and moved forward slowly. He wishes he could rewind the clock and look one more time,” said Ms Nix, who noted that her client draped his coat over Mr Murray following the collision.

Ms Nix read out a letter of apology penned by Mr Hanrahan in which he said Tuesday, February 7, 2023 will be forever on his mind. 

“Every time I close my eyes I see Mr Murray lying on the ground. I wish to sincerely apologise to Mr Murray and his family for what happened. I can understand, as a father, what Mr Murray's family went through. This is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life. I hope he will make a full recovery. I  wish I could change the outcome of that day,” read out Ms Nix.

The judge adjourned matters on that date.

In passing sentence this Friday, Judge Daly 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.

READ NEXT: Uisce Éireann issues hosepipe ban for three counties amid 'sharp drop in water levels'

Judge Daly said Mr Hanrahan “slowed but failed to stop” at the junction, and he executed a right turn onto the road colliding with Mr Murray.

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

“There was a high degree of carelessness and it is difficult to see how he (Mr Hanrahan) failed to see Mr Murray travelling on his bicycle."

The judge said it appeared that previous fines and road bans imposed on Mr Hanrahan for driving convictions had not deterred him from driving carelessly.

The judge said he was “satisfied” the threshold for a custodial sentence had been met. He jailed Mr Hanrahan for 10 months and disqualified him from driving for three years.