logo
Oisin Murphy can continue riding while under charges for drink-driving

Oisin Murphy can continue riding while under charges for drink-driving

Irish Times5 hours ago

Oisin Murphy will be able to continue riding until at least his court appearance on drink-driving charges next week.
The four-time champion jockey was in action at Doncaster on Friday and has six booked rides at York on Saturday, the most high-profile meeting since he was charged while at
Royal Ascot
last week.
Murphy (29) has been charged with one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed level of alcohol and one count of failing to co-operate with a preliminary test at the roadside after a collision in the early hours of Sunday, April 27th this year.
He is due to appear at Reading magistrates court next Thursday.
READ MORE
It is understood the racing authorities, while monitoring developments, feel that nothing prevents Murphy from riding at present and the judicial process should be allowed to play out in the appropriate way. – Guardian

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ex-FF councillor harassed waitress at work, stared in window of restaurant and kissed hand, court told
Ex-FF councillor harassed waitress at work, stared in window of restaurant and kissed hand, court told

Irish Times

time3 hours ago

  • Irish Times

Ex-FF councillor harassed waitress at work, stared in window of restaurant and kissed hand, court told

A young waitress was harassed at work by a former councillor who told her she was the 'prettiest girl' he had ever seen, kissed her hand, tried to get her phone number and stared at her both in the restaurant and through the window outside, a court has heard. Joseph O'Donovan, formerly known as Gary O'Flynn, appeared before Cork District Court on Friday, having previously pleaded guilty to one count of harassment. Sgt John Kelleher told the court that Mr O'Donovan (49), a former Fianna Fáil councillor, went to a restaurant in Cork City on July 30th, 2022. He stayed for two hours during which time he was drinking wine. He flagged down a 25-year-old waitress and kissed her on the hand telling her she was 'the nicest and prettiest girl he had ever seen.' He continued to engage the woman in conversation while in the restaurant. His behaviour made her deeply uneasy, the court heard. READ MORE Mr O'Donovan of Melvindale House, Coolowen in Blarney, Co Cork returned to the restaurant on August 1st, 2022. Sgt Kelleher said Mr O'Donovan wanted to be served by the same waitress. The waitress felt he was continuously staring in her direction. He again took her hand and kissed it. He breathed in to her ear and said: 'Meet me outside for a tip and I better get your phone number for it'. The court heard Mr O'Donovan then went outside and started staring in the window. Sgt Kelleher said the waitress went out, told the accused he wasn't welcome and should leave. 'He [Mr O'Donovan] went back in again and asked [the waitress] could he see her again. He was asked to leave by management. He threw a €50 note at the waitress.' Mr O'Donovan returned to the restaurant on August 6th, 2022 at around 10.30pm when the premises was near closing. The waitress told him to leave and Mr O'Donovan said he was 'sorry' and he 'couldn't help it'. He was arrested later that month. He claimed he had carried out the gesture out of politeness and courtesy. He said he thought his interactions with the woman were 'congenial' . He insisted he was very sorry for what had occurred. Sgt Kelleher detailed the accused's 26 previous convictions. He said the most serious involved Mr O'Donovan soliciting a person to murder three people, one of whom was a Garda. The young woman who was harassed by Mr O'Donovan opted to give her own victim impact statement. 'For three years I have never stopped looking over my shoulder when I heard steps behind me,' she said. 'This man [O'Donovan] looked me in the eye and called himself a creep. This man looked me in the eyes and called himself a stalker. Then laughed about it.' She said the accused felt his 'desire' outweighed her right to say 'no.' 'He ignored every boundary and pushed further each time. It wasn't harmless. It was obsessive and it left me terrified in places that I used to feel safe.' She added she would never forget Mr O'Donovan's 'stares, his weird comments or the way he would linger and wait.' Judge Mary Dorgan remanded Mr O'Donovan on bail until October 3rd next when sentencing will be finalised. Mr O'Donovan is the son of former TD, Noel O'Flynn.

How many chances does Oisin Murphy need? The drink driving charge is the latest bleak chapter in a disheartening story
How many chances does Oisin Murphy need? The drink driving charge is the latest bleak chapter in a disheartening story

The Irish Sun

time4 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

How many chances does Oisin Murphy need? The drink driving charge is the latest bleak chapter in a disheartening story

HOW many chances does Oisin Murphy need? Of course, I must caveat this entire column by saying he has not been found guilty, or admitted guilt, to the Thames Valley Police charges of drink driving and failing to provide a roadside breath test. 1 Oisin Murphy has been charged with drink driving Credit: Getty He will appear in court next week, and if he does plead guilty he will lose his drivers' licence and could, in theory, face more serious punishment. We will have to wait and see how it plays out. But his career has been chequered, to say the least. Let's first consider the positives — Murphy is a tremendous talent. He was one of those jockeys who always looked destined for the top while he was an apprentice, and he shot to prominence with a four-timer on Ayr Gold Cup day as an 18-year-old. He was given the opportunities and took them, ending up as stable No1 to Andrew Balding and as retained jock for Qatar Racing. Murphy, 29, is aware of his obligations as one of our leading jockeys to engage with the public, and he does it very well on social media. His ability was on full show at Royal Ascot, when he rode five winners and was especially lethal over the straight track. But it was during the Royal meeting that a letter dropped onto his doormat from the Crown Prosecution Service saying they were charging him, and so began the latest bleak chapter of one of racing's most disheartening storylines. Most read in Horse Racing It is quite clear there is another — how can I put it — less polished side to Murphy than the one you see in public. I've experienced it first hand over the years. Of course it is sad to see a person struggle with an addiction to alcohol — Murphy needs help as he quite clearly isn't ready to help himself. He has the world at his feet, but it appears he can't stop pushing the self-destruct button. And too many people around him have covered for him and brushed his issues under the carpet. And they keep surfacing again and again. First, he was Then issues with the bottle began to surface. He failed multiple breath tests and — as exclusively revealed in Sunracing on 2021 Qipco Champions' Day — was involved in an This was after he had completely disregarded Covid-19 regulations to travel to Mykonos, Greece, in the September of 2020, which, at that time, was on the government's 'red list'. He lied to the BHA about where he had been, returned to the UK and went straight back into the weighing room without isolating himself, potentially putting his colleagues at risk of infection. He was So when he was re-granted his licence, the BHA attached strict conditions, including increased breath testing and a requirement for Murphy 'to remain sober'. After all, it was not that long ago that Graham Gibbons was blamed for a pile-up at Kempton which left Freddie Tylicki in a wheelchair, and in court it was alleged his breath smelled of alcohol on the day. In racing, riding while even slightly impaired is incredibly dangerous. More recently, eyebrows were raised when Murphy failed to turn up at Kempton Park for scheduled alcohol breath testing because, allegedly, he was suffering from especially painful He was back in the saddle shortly after and, as far as I'm aware, the old Chalfont St Giles haven't bothered him to the same extent before or since the missed test. And now he has been involved in a car crash while allegedly over the limit with a passenger in the car — there has been a theme of apparent disregard for the safety of others which is unacceptable. Is it just 'demons'? Or, which is an uncomfortable question to pose, does he just not care? Read more on the Irish Sun If he is found or pleads guilty on Thursday, the BHA will have no option but to immediately suspend his riding licence in my view. Every time Murphy has done something wrong, his actions have been excused one way or another. How many more chances does he need?

Séamus Coleman signs one-year contact extension at Everton
Séamus Coleman signs one-year contact extension at Everton

Irish Times

time5 hours ago

  • Irish Times

Séamus Coleman signs one-year contact extension at Everton

Everton captain Séamus Coleman has signed a one-year contract extension, saying on Friday that the chance to lead the club into their new stadium was a key reason to continue. The 36-year-old Republic of Ireland defender signed the deal just three days before his previous contract expired. He was forced off in the first half of Everton's final game at Goodison Park last month with a thigh injury and missed Ireland's draws with Senegal and Luxembourg. He is expected to be fit in time for next season. 'Thanks to the hard work of many people, we've been able to get into our magnificent new stadium and pave the way for a brighter future under ambitious new owners [Friedkin Group], which I want to be part of,' Coleman said in a statement. Coleman joined the Merseyside club from Sligo Rovers in 2009 during David Moyes's first spell as manager. Moyes joined for a second spell in January, guiding Everton to a 13th-place finish. READ MORE 'In David Moyes, we have the perfect manager to lead us into a new era. He showed his abilities once again with the way he had us playing after returning last season. 'As the man who brought me to Everton, I can't speak highly enough of him. He gets this football club, the standards required every day, and what it means to play for Everton.' Coleman holds the club record for most Premier League appearances (369) and is joint 12th on Everton's all-time list with 428 matches in all competitions, just five behind Dixie Dean and Leon Osman. 'This could be a period of real change at the club and I want somebody who can help deliver the messages of what it means to be an Everton footballer. Séamus has always done that and I know he will continue to do so as we move into a new era,' Moyes said. Everton begin their league campaign away at Leeds United on August 18th. (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store