Woman who crashed into primary school suffered seizure, court hears
Joanna Murray, 41, admitted dangerous driving after the collision on April 22 last year
Police officers stand beside the debris and damage to the Beacon Church of England Primary School, in Everton, Liverpool, after a car crashed into the building (Peter Byrne/PA)
A woman who crashed a car through the wall of a primary school suffered a seizure at the wheel, a court has heard.
Joanna Murray, 41, admitted dangerous driving after the collision on April 22 last year, which saw her white Mercedes crash into The Beacon Primary School in Everton, Liverpool, at 8.30am, shortly before the school was due to open.
At Sefton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, District Judge Paul Healey accepted a basis of plea in which Murray said she could not remember the collision but later discovered she had a seizure.
In the basis, she said she had been driving her son to school.
Police officers stand beside the debris and damage to the Beacon Church of England Primary School, in Everton, Liverpool, after a car crashed into the building (Peter Byrne/PA)
News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday June 10
She said she was on medication for seizures but, at the time, had not suffered one for two years.
She accepted she had not disclosed her medical condition to the DVLA.
Murray, of Queens Drive, Liverpool, was due to stand trial on Tuesday for failing to provide a specimen but the case was adjourned to December 9 as a witness was unable to attend.
The judge said the collision caused 'catastrophic damage', but added: 'Thankfully no-one was injured.'
The defendant, who was in tears during much of the hearing, was granted unconditional bail.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
9 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Mercedes car was veering across Louth road in the afternoon
Iryna Maier, The Saltings, Annagassan, Co. Louth, who has no previous convictions, denied the offence which occurred at Mountainstown, Dunleer, on December 17, 2024. The district court rejected a defence submission that the prosecuting Garda did not say a 'public place' when forming his opinion before arresting the accused. Gda Aidan Grier gave evidence that at 3.30pm he received notification from Garda Command and Control about a suspected female drink driver in the Dunleer area. Five minutes later he saw a grey Mercedes driving northbound in the village. It turned left onto Mountain Road. He followed and saw this car veering left and right. Gda Grier said he activated the blue lights. The other vehicle pulled in after 400m at an entrance to a field. Ms Maier handed him a full Ukrainian driving licence. She was quite emotional and upset. She was mentioning her home country and her children. The defendant was slurring her words and when she got out was unsteady on her feet. She failed a roadside breath test. The witness continued that he arrested Ms Maier at 3.43pm on suspicion of drink driving. At Drogheda Garda Station she provided two samples of breath which produced an over the limit reading of 103mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. Barrister Eoghan Fagan, instructed by solicitor Ruairí Moore, submitted that the officer didn't indicate a public place in respect of forming his opinion and that the arrest and what followed was unlawful. ADVERTISEMENT Court presenter Sgt John O'Hehir said that the Garda clarified that the location was a public place. Judge Nicola Andrews said that she was satisfied that all took place in a public place. The defence did not go into evidence. Mr Fagan said that Ms Maier had travelled to Ireland on breakout of the conflict in Ukraine. If she returned her eldest son aged 17 would be eligible for military service. Her partner was in the military. Judge Andrews remarked it was an extremely stressful situation. Legal aid was granted and the court certified for counsel.
Sunday World
12 hours ago
- Sunday World
Drunken teen has hazy memory of interfering with cars, court hears
Valters Gudrups (19) hoped to enlist in the Latvian army, and this type of behaviour was completely out of character for him, his lawyer told the court. A teenager caught interfering with cars in a Dublin estate had too much to drink and his memory of his behaviour was hazy, a court has heard. Valters Gudrups (19) hoped to enlist in the Latvian army, and this type of behaviour was completely out of character for him, his lawyer told the court. Judge David McHugh ordered Gudrups to complete 50 hours' community service in lieu of two months in prison. The defendant, with an address at Castlecurragh Vale in Mulhuddart, admitted interfering with two vehicles at Warrenstown Grove in Blanchardstown on January 12, 2025. Gudrups also admitted possessing stolen property, namely an insurance certificate and a log book, at the same time and place. Sergeant Maria Callaghan told the Blanchardstown District Court that gardaí were called to the scene shortly before 1.30am following reports that a number of males were acting suspiciously. Sgt Callaghan said two males were seen by gardaí interfering with a silver Mercedes and a Mazda. The men tried to flee when they saw gardaí, Sgt Callaghan told the court, but Gudrups was stopped and searched by officers. He was found with a stolen log book from one car, and an insurance certificate from the second vehicle. The court heard the defendant had no previous convictions. Defence solicitor Eoghan O'Sullivan said the defendant was originally from Latvia, but had lived in Ireland since he was four years old. Mr O'Sullivan said the defendant was not a drinker, but on the night in question he had too much to drink, and his 'memory was hazy' regarding what had happened. Mr O'Sullivan asked the judge to be lenient, saying this behaviour was out of character for his client, who had enlisted with the Latvian army. Gudrups was due to begin his army training in July, the solicitor said. Judge McHugh said the defendant must first complete community service.
Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Tributes paid to man (81) killed in Kerry cycling accident
Paddy O'Donoghue (81) was killed in the incident on the R569 road, Church Grounds in Kilgarvan. Tributes have been paid to an 'absolute gentleman' who was killed in a cycling accident in Co. Kerry on Tuesday. The cyclist, who was a man in his eighties, died after he was struck by a vehicle in Kilgarvan at around 1.40pm on Tuesday. He has been named locally as Paddy O'Donoghue (81) from Gortahoonig, Muckross, Killarney, Kerry. The incident happened on the R569 road, Church Grounds in Kilgarvan, gardai said. Mr O'Donoghue was declared dead at the scene. Gardaí say the Coroner has been informed and a postmortem examination will take place. Locals described Mr O'Donoghue as an absolute gentleman who loved the outdoors and regularly cycled in the area. Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 12 2025 He had often taken part in the Ring of Kerry Cycle each year. Paying tribute his local Glenflesk GAA club said: 'Glenflesk GAA would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Paddy O'Donoghue on his sad passing. He was a true Glenflesk stalwart as a player, mentor and lifelong supporter.' Friends also paid tribute. One friend said: 'So sorry to hear of the sudden passing of Paddy, loved meeting him on my walks and we sorting out all the problems of the world, condolences to Brenda and family and all extended families. May he rest in peace.' Another said: 'Paddy did me a big favour years ago after my car went off the road on the way to a game. He drove me and fixed the car and I hardly knew him. A gentleman. May he rest in peace.' He is survived by his wife Brenda and children Florence, Áine, Denise, Brenda, Báirbre, Patrick and Alice. No funeral arrangements have been made as yet but should be known on Thursday June 12th. Gardaíare appealing for witnesses to contact them. They also said in a statement that the road where the accident took place was closed off and diversions were in place. They said: 'Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area between 1pm and 2pm are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí. "Anyone with any information is asked to contact Killarney Garda Station on 064 667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station." Gardai say investigations are ongoing.
