Oisin Murphy issues apology to passenger after crashing car while drunk

Daily Mirror

03-07-2025

The champion jockey said in a statement that there was no excuse for his actions and that he had let a lot of people down after being fined £70,000 and banned from driving for 20 months
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has issued a public apology after he was fined £70,000 and banned from driving for 20 months after admitting a drink driving offence on Thursday.
The four-time British champion Flat rider appeared at Reading magistrates court on Thursday as a result of his involvement in a serious road traffic collision in Hermitage, West Berkshire in April this year in which a grey Mercedes A Class car left the road and crashed into a tree. The 29-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol.
The court was told that Murphy had been the driver of the Mercedes which was owned by his unnamed female passenger, who was hospitalised. Police said he appeared intoxicated but no breath test sample was taken at the scene due to 'a misunderstanding between him and the officers'.
Following his arrest Murphy was taken to a police station where a breath test, carried out nearly seven hours later, recorded a result of 66 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath which was 'just shy of twice the legal alcohol limit', the court heard.
During a police interview Murphy was 'unable to assist in terms of why the accident occurred and didn't have any memory of the event'.
District Judge Sam Goozee fined Murphy £70,000, ordered him to pay a £2,000 surcharge plus £85 costs, to be paid by June 31. His licence was disqualified for 20 months but will get a 20 week reduction if he completes a drink driving rehabilitation scheme by August 2026.
Murphy left the court without making comment but later published a statement on his X account.
He said: 'I would like to sincerely apologise for my actions. I know that drink driving is unacceptable and there is no excuse for what I did.
'I have let a lot of people down. I particularly want to apologise to my passenger and her family.
'I have so far been able to share only minimal details of my offence with the British Horseracing Authority as a result of the police investigation. I will now be fully co-operative with their enquiries.
'It would not be appropriate for me to comment further until that process is concluded.'
Murphy is due to fly to New York to ride at Saratoga on Friday night and return Saturday when he is booked for the 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. The BHA said he was free to take those mounts and continue riding.
A statement said: 'Everyone at the BHA, like all involved in our sport, is disappointed today having learned the details of the offence to which Oisin Murphy has pleaded guilty. This is a very serious offence that, in the course of being committed, saw Mr Murphy jeopardise not only his own safety but that of his passenger and all other people travelling on the roads at the same time as him that night.
'His conduct fell a long way short of the standard we expect of all licensed individuals, in whom we place trust that they will represent our sport to the best of their abilities, upholding our collective reputation and ensuring racing is a safe place for all.
'In light of Mr Murphy's guilty plea and the information revealed in court today, we will be working on the addition of new conditions on his licence that may be referred to the Licensing Committee for their consideration. As has been the case in recent weeks, Mr Murphy remains free to take up his riding engagements.
'We will issue an update on this process in due course and will be making no further comment at this time.'