David Raleigh
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, was remanded on bail on Monday 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 7th, 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.
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.
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 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.
Following the collision, Mr Murray was rushed by ambulance from the scene to UHL, where an MRI scan confirmed he had sustained a serious brain injury.
He was then transferred to CUH, where he spent seven weeks fighting to stay alive.
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.
Crowd noise in stadiums and traveling in airplanes left him with terrible pain in his ears: “All the pressure comes in through the (hearing) ear, and the noise blows my head off.”
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