Latest news with #Adeley
RTÉ News
25-07-2025
- RTÉ News
Jay Slater died by accident after fall
Teenager Jay Slater who went missing in Tenerife last summer sparking a huge search, died by accident after falling from a height, a coroner at his inquest has concluded. He had told his friends he was "in the middle of the mountains" and in need of a drink, as he attempted a 14-hour walk home the morning after taking drugs and alcohol on a night out, Preston Coroner's Court has heard. Mr Slater, 19, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was holidaying in Tenerife and had been to the NRG music festival with friends at the Papagayo nightclub in the resort of Playa de las Americas, on 16 June last year. But he vanished the next morning after going with two men to an Airbnb in Masca, a village in the mountains miles from his holiday apartment in Los Cristianos. A huge search was launched before his body was found in a steep and inaccessible area, by a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Civil Guard, near the village of Masca, on 15 July. He had been reported missing on 18 June. The inquest heard his phone battery had died and he needed a drink but had no water as he set off on the 14-hour walk home in the early morning. As temperatures grew he left the road and ended up in the ravine, where his body was found having suffered severe head injuries from a fall. Coroner said no one else involved in death Concluding a two-day inquest into his death, Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen, said: "Jay fell at a particularly dangerous area in difficult terrain." "He fell approximately 20 to 25 metres, suffering skull fractures and brain trauma from which he would have died instantaneously. Jay Dean Slater died an accidental death. Dr Adeley said contributing factors to the fall may have been a lack of suitable clothing, sleep and mountain training, as well as potential after effects of drugs he had consumed. Friends concerned about him He noted that on the night of 16 June and afterwards, there was "every indication" that Mr Slater's friends who were accompanying him on the holiday were concerned about him, tried to find him and look after his welfare "This is a tragic death of a young man," he said. Dr Adeley said the evidence showed there was no one else involved in the death and no evidence to suggest Mr Slater had been threatened, assaulted, was under duress or in fear for his safety. The coroner told Mr Slater's family sat in court that he hoped the "examination of facts rather than conjecture" during the hearing had been some consolation to them. Mr Slater's tearful mother, Debbie Duncan, had earlier given a tribute to her son at the hearing today, saying: "He was very loved and our hearts are broken," Ms Duncan said.
Wales Online
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Wales Online
Over 70s are 'not legally allowed to drive' if they commit licence mistake
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Drivers over 70 who fail to renew their licences are being warned that they are "not legally allowed to drive". Age UK emphasised that the DVLA is supposed to dispatch a D46P application form 90 days before one's 70th birthday, to ensure the continuity of lawful driving. If you let your licence lapse without applying for a renewal, be aware that you won't be legally entitled to drive. The charity advises: "Don't forget to apply for any extra categories of vehicle covered on your old licence if you still want to be able to drive them." Moreover, they caution: "There might be extra costs for these but if you don't apply for these extra categories you'll only be able to drive a car in future." The guidance has been issued amid discussions that seniors should have routine MOTs and health checks. Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community It has also sparked some frustration among drivers, with one saying: "Look, I already have annual eyetests every November. Is it suggested I would need yet another one 4 months later when my licence needs renewal and just how is it the responsibility of the opticians to report their findings to the DVLC, and who pays for that," reports BirminghamLive. "Much better idea, carry out regular stop and search checks and pick off the no licence? No insurance cover? and the many drug taking drivers. Who incidentally are unlikely to be fed 70 plus." Driving safety standards were also put into question by Dr James Adeley, HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire, who labelled the current visual legal requirements as "ineffective and unsafe" following four separate deaths. He added: "Doing nothing means the risk of more avoidable deaths and life-changing injuries remains, caused by people whose quality of vision means they should no longer be driving." Dr Adeley said: "The four fatalities shared the same feature that the driver's sight was well below the standard required to drive a car." He added: "The current system for 'ensuring' drivers meet the visual legal standards is ineffective, unsafe and unfit to meet the needs of society as evidenced by the deaths of Marie Cunningham, Grace Foulds, Anne Ferguson and Peter Westwell where the DVLA continued to provide licences to drivers who had failed to meet the legal sight requirements." Find out what's happening near you
North Wales Live
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- North Wales Live
Over 70s are 'not legally allowed to drive' if they commit licence mistake
Drivers over 70 who fail to renew their licences are being warned that they are "not legally allowed to drive". Age UK emphasised that the DVLA is supposed to dispatch a D46P application form 90 days before one's 70th birthday, to ensure the continuity of lawful driving. If you let your licence lapse without applying for a renewal, be aware that you won't be legally entitled to drive. The charity advises: "Don't forget to apply for any extra categories of vehicle covered on your old licence if you still want to be able to drive them." Moreover, they caution: "There might be extra costs for these but if you don't apply for these extra categories you'll only be able to drive a car in future." The guidance has been issued amid discussions that seniors should have routine MOTs and health checks. Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community It has also sparked some frustration among drivers, with one saying: "Look, I already have annual eyetests every November. Is it suggested I would need yet another one 4 months later when my licence needs renewal and just how is it the responsibility of the opticians to report their findings to the DVLC, and who pays for that," reports BirminghamLive. "Much better idea, carry out regular stop and search checks and pick off the no licence? No insurance cover? and the many drug taking drivers. Who incidentally are unlikely to be fed 70 plus." Driving safety standards were also put into question by Dr James Adeley, HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire, who labelled the current visual legal requirements as "ineffective and unsafe" following four separate deaths. He added: "Doing nothing means the risk of more avoidable deaths and life-changing injuries remains, caused by people whose quality of vision means they should no longer be driving." Dr Adeley said: "The four fatalities shared the same feature that the driver's sight was well below the standard required to drive a car." He added: "The current system for 'ensuring' drivers meet the visual legal standards is ineffective, unsafe and unfit to meet the needs of society as evidenced by the deaths of Marie Cunningham, Grace Foulds, Anne Ferguson and Peter Westwell where the DVLA continued to provide licences to drivers who had failed to meet the legal sight requirements."
ITV News
21-05-2025
- ITV News
Jay Slater's inquest hears two friends with him before his disappearance 'cannot be located'
An inquest into the death of teenager Jay Slater after he went missing on the island of Tenerife has heard that, despite the fact that police are searching for them, two friends he was with just before he disappeared "cannot be located". The proceedings are taking place into the 19-year-old's death today at Preston Coroner's Court, overseen by senior coroner Dr James Adeley, who also presided over Nicola Bulley's case two years ago. As the hearing got underway this morning, Dr Adeley informed the court that neither Lucy Law nor Brad Hargreaves, who had been with the Oswaldtwistle bricklayer in Tenerife and attended the NRG music festival on the Spanish island last June, could be found prior to the inquest. The coroner stated that both individuals, who could have been key witnesses in the inquest, had "denied who they are" ahead of today's hearing. Dr Adeley told the court that Lucy and Brad "cannot be located", adding: "We can't find them. "They have denied who they are and we have had police looking for them but we can't find them." Jay had attended an event at the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas before travelling to an Airbnb in the Rural Parc de Teno in the north of the island on June 17 last year. He attempted to return to the flat where he was staying with friends in Los Cristianos on foot, before going missing, and after a four-week search, Jay was found dead on July 15 in the Juan Lopez ravine, near to the remote village of Masca in Teno. His body was identified using a 'palm print', and Cheryl McGowan, Lancashire Constabulary's senior fingerprint expert, said she compared this with records held by the police and she is confident that "it's definitely a positive identification". Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd told the inquest: "There were extensive changes due to decomposition. There were changes due to the period of time he was lying in a hot environment - changes I would expect to see in that period of 28 days or thereabouts."The pathologist says Jay suffered several injuries but "that to the head is by far the most important one in understanding why Jay died". Dr Shepherd explained that this involved "the application of considerable force", adding: "The pattern of injuries is entirely consistent with a heavy fall from height."The head injury which Jay suffered "would have had an immediate and devastating effect", Dr Shepherd says. "The injury is so severe that I have no doubt at all that he would have been rendered immediately unconscious."The pathologist has provided a cause of death as head injury. A CT scan showed there was "a severe fracture of the head". The Spanish authorities also concluded that the cause of Jay's death was a severe traumatic brain injury, the inquest heard.
Sky News
18-04-2025
- Sky News
UK's system for verifying drivers' eyesight 'unsafe', coroner rules after four people killed
The UK's system for ensuring drivers have good eyesight is "unsafe", a coroner has said. Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, made the remark at the inquests of four people killed by motorists whose vision was failing. He said Britain's licensing system was the "laxest in Europe" - and one of only three to allow eyesight conditions to be self-reported. He also said it was concerning that the UK was the only European country to issue licences without any checks up to the age of 70. Dr Adeley presided over the inquests in Preston of Marie Cunningham, 79, Grace Foulds, 85, Peter Westwell, 80, and Anne Ferguson, 75. Mrs Cunningham and Mrs Foulds, who were friends, were struck by Glyn Jones, 68, in his Audi A3 as they crossed the road in Southport, Merseyside, in November 2021. Jones was told by both his optician and GP on several occasions that his eyesight was well below the standard required for driving a vehicle after he was diagnosed with a severe eye condition. But he ignored the warnings and did not inform the DVLA or insurers. He was sentenced to seven years and four months in jail in January last year. Mr Westwell was hit by Neil Pemberton, 81, as he crossed the road in Langho, near Blackburn, on 17 March 2022. Mrs Ferguson died when she was struck by a van driven by Vernon Law, 72, in Whitworth, Rochdale, on 11 July 2023. Dr Adeley said: "The four fatalities shared the same feature that the driver's sight was well below the standard required to drive a car. "The current system for 'ensuring' drivers meet the visual legal standards is ineffective, unsafe and unfit to meet the needs of society as evidenced by the deaths of [the four victims] where the DVLA continued to provide licences to drivers who had failed to meet the legal sight requirements." He added: "Self-reporting of visual conditions permits drivers to lie about their current driving status to those performing an ophthalmic assessment and avoid warnings not to drive. "Drivers may also admit they drive but then ignore instructions not to drive and fail to notify the DVLA." Failure to tell the licensing agency of a new or worsening eyesight condition from the age of 70 is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £1,000 but the coroner pointed out: "However, as the DVLA have never referred a case to the police where a condition was not disclosed for consideration for a prosecution, this appears to be a sanction without teeth." Terry Wilcox, of Hudgell Solicitors, representing the families of Mrs Cunningham, Mrs Foulds and Mr Westwell, said: "People ignore what they are told when it doesn't suit their lifestyle, and in reality there is nothing in place to stop selfish people putting others at risk by getting back behind the wheel. "Best estimates are that around 2% of drivers would fail the driving eyesight test - which would equate to around 750,000 drivers and 4,250 journeys every day on the M25. "It is quite frankly frightening. "Essentially, the only proof of suitable eyesight drivers have to provide is on the day of their driving test, when a number plate has to be read from 20 metres away. "If you pass your test at 17, you are not asked to provide real evidence or proof of your eyesight ability ever again." The Department for Transport said it would consider the coroner's report once received.
