A MAN who drove a tractor and trailer in a careless fashion, causing “serious bodily harm” to Gerry Murray, the father of Ireland rugby legend, Conor Murray, has been remanded for sentence.
Seamus Hanrahan (53) of Kilmore, Granagh, Co Limerick, admitted the offence before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
Gerry Murray, (70), Patrickswell, Co Limerick, was cycling along the N20 when he was struck by Mr Hanrahan driving the agricultural vehicle, on February 7, 2023.
Mr Murray, married to former Irish international squash player, Barbara Murray, suffered a brain bleed following the collision and was placed in an induced coma by doctors to try to bring him back from the brink.
Mr Murray was placed in intensive care at Cork University Hospital (CUH), and since discharged from the hospital but continues to suffer a number of ongoing medical issues arising out of his injuries.
Lily Buckley, prosecuting barrister, said Mr Hanrahan made an “early plea” in the case, and that he had “was looking for time to make (personal) arrangements” ahead of his sentencing date.
Mr Hanrahan has pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing serious bodily harm to another person, namely Gerry Murray, at Attyflin, Patrickswell, while he was driving a DAF x2 tractor unit, which was coupled to a tanker semi-trailer, without due care and attention.
Mr Hanrahan’s barrister, Amy Nix, said she was “awaiting a psychological report” in respect of the defendant, and they were waiting for a date for sentencing hearing.
Judge Colin Daly remanded Mr Hanrahan on bail for sentence on April 7th.
Speaking to this reporter after his discharge from hospital, Mr Murray praised the “superb” paramedics, doctors and nurses who helped save his life.
Staff at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), Cork University Hospital and St Camillus’ Hospital, Limerick, all worked to get Mr Murray back on his feet, he said.
Mr Murray, whose son, Conor, lines out for Munster and Ireland, revealed he had to learn how to walk again through a grueling physiotherapy programme.
He said that he still suffered with painful “nerve damage” in his right hand as well as poor mobility, and “permanent” deafness in his left ear.
“The doctors told me that I’m looking at a minimum of a year to recover from that type of a head injury, I have a long road ahead of me,” Mr Murray said.
He said he could recall the moments leading up to the crash, but that he had “no memory whatsoever” of the collision itself, which he said, was “probably a blessing”.
The day doctors slowly brought him out of his medically induced coma was a moment of “joy” for his family, but it remained a great shock to himself.
“I had been on my regular cycling route, I’m (cycling) on the hard shoulder, and then, four weeks later I wake up with my family around me in the hospital bed in Cork,” Mr Murray said.
“I was very confused, couldn’t remember anything, and then my wife, Barbara, told me I had had a very severe brain trauma,” he added.
Mr Murray said that prior to the collision, he regularly played 18 rounds of golf, rode a motorbike, and routinely cycled more than 100kms a week, but he said, “I wouldn’t even attempt that at this stage”.
Mr Murray said he knows he is “lucky” to be alive, but that his ongoing medical issues arising out of his injuries had frustrated his attempts to attend some of his son’s rugby matches.
