Former MP Amy MacMahon's drunk driver learns her fate in unexpected courtroom twist

7NEWS

a day ago

A young woman whose alcohol-fuelled crash left former Greens MP Amy MacMahon critically injured has been spared jail — with the unexpected support of the victim herself.
The crash occurred around 6.30 pm on Monday, 12 February 2024, at the busy intersection of Baines Street and Main Street in Kangaroo Point, Brisbane.
In a surprising courtroom twist, MacMahon delivered a powerful victim impact statement urging the judge to show mercy to drunk driver Rani Lowry, who critically injured her.
MacMahon spent weeks in a coma, suffering a traumatic brain injury after the crash.
Red light, high speed, and three times the limit
Lowry, 27, was behind the wheel of a Hyundai i30 when she ran a red light at Kangaroo Point last year, slamming into MacMahon's Toyota Prius at high speed.
CCTV footage showed Lowry travelling 23 kilometres per hour over the speed limit, and tests revealed she was three times over the legal alcohol limit.
The collision left MacMahon fighting for her life.
She was rushed to Princess Alexandra Hospital with severe head injuries and a suspected spinal fracture.
The crash sent shockwaves through the political community, drawing support from colleagues across party lines and prompting an outpouring of public concern.
But it was MacMahon's actions in court on Friday that stunned observers.
'I am willing to help'
Despite the life-altering injuries she sustained, the former MP addressed the court with empathy and compassion, asking the judge to consider the young woman's struggles.
'If you need support to be able to devote your time to making the community a better place, I am willing to help,' MacMahon wrote in a deeply moving statement of support for Lowry.
Lowry's lawyer told the court she had fallen into a downward spiral of alcohol dependence following the sudden death of her brother.
The court also heard she had shown genuine remorse and had taken steps toward rehabilitation.
No prison, but a long road ahead
While condemning Lowry's actions as 'dangerously reckless,' the judge sentenced her to a three-year parole term, meaning she will not serve time behind bars unless she breaches her parole conditions.
The judge acknowledged the exceptional nature of the victim's plea and said MacMahon's compassion carried significant weight in the decision.
Elected in 2020, MacMahon quickly became known for her fierce advocacy on issues such as housing, climate change, and social justice.
However, the Greens MP lost her South Brisbane seat to a Labor candidate in 2024.