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The Independent
27-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Inside the aftermath of one of Liverpool's darkest days
Treading slowly out of their Airbnb on to the heavily-policed street, the O'Brien family turned to inspect the aftermath of the appalling events the evening before. Behind the tangled cordon, empty beer bottles and takeaway boxes were strewn across the deserted road. In the distance, a forensic officer checked the road surface for evidence. For the sombre-looking family-of-four, it was like waking up from a violent nightmare, hoping it was just a dream. But it wasn't. Less than 24 hours earlier, the group were among thousands of joyous Liverpool fans packed into the street for their team's Premier League -winning parade. Unbeknown to them was they were in the path of a Ford Galaxy vehicle that would turn the city's party of the year into a horror show. Only for young Liverpool fans pushing them out of the way, the family from County Meath in Ireland were saved from joining the 65 confirmed casualties. The youngest - Danny, aged 11 - still appeared visibly shaken as he stood next to his father, Paul, and grandparents, Marie and Peter. 'For the little fella to see it going on - it's very hard to understand,' said his 39-year-old father. As dawn broke on Tuesday, many in the city had questions over how the vehicle entered Water Street, with an investigation only in its early stages. But for the O'Briens, they were just thankful to be able to walk away. "It [the car] passed us by inches, and then it continued and we could actually hear the thuds of people being hit,' said Paul. 'It was just a terrible scene. There were kids, men and women on the ground. "The men who pushed us out of the way were amazing, it was heroic stuff, young Liverpool supporters. They didn't think for a second, only for those people they don't know." As the rain came down on Tuesday, the closed-off section of road turned into a central point for grief for dozens of Liverpool supporters. CCTV obtained by The Independent showed the moment the vehicle moved down Dale Street, through the crowds, before entering Water Street. Fans had confronted the vehicle before it finally came to a stop, with four people trapped underneath. On Tuesday, many observers walked to the police cordon where they took pictures, hugged each other. One person laid flowers. Donna Skeldon, aged 51, from the Isle of Wight, was tearful as she retold how she fled in terror down a side street when the violence broke out. "I was just running in a panic," she said. "We weren't sure what was happening, but when you see so many people running, you just run for your life because you don't know what's happening.' She heard thuds as she ran, fearing at first they could be gun shots before looking around to see people hitting the car after it had come to a stop. 'It's horrible to think you're in that sort of situation. You never want to be there again, seeing the horror in front of you.' While the day had initially started out as a celebration, the city centre soon emptied as emergency services battled to bring the scene under control. Lisa Meiklajohn, 38, said: 'We were in the Reds Bar last night and it was meant to be a big ticketed event, but it was completely quiet. It was a somber mood. People just didn't want to go out. They were upset.' Others voiced frustration at how the vehicle had been able to hit the crowds. Ruben Derby, aged 26, said: 'You have so many people at an event - how can a car be able to get inside the roadblock and do this? Later in the evening, at Merseyside Police's headquarters in the city centre, Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims explained the car was believed to have followed an ambulance as it responded to a man suffering a suspected heart attack. While 11 people remain in hospital, officers are still questioning a 53-year-old man, who has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving offences and driving while unfit through drugs. Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Jaundrill said the public had showed an 'incredible response' in helping the police in its investigation. It emerged that off-duty staff came into work at the city's hospitals. Clearly, the city was shook by the incident - but many at the police cordon also showed a steely resilience. Caio Cesar, 31, from Brazil, said: 'These are things that this city has unfortunately a bit of experience with. The people and the city know how to recover - and we will.'
Irish Times
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Times
Toddler ‘extremely lucky' he wasn't strapped in buggy when struck by rally car 10 years ago
A toddler was extremely lucky he was not strapped into his buggy when a car on the Circuit of Kerry rally went out of control and crashed through a protective barrier, throwing the buggy up against a wall, the High Court has heard. Jamie O'Brien was watching the motor rally along with his parents and sister at a church car park at Ballymacelligott when the incident happened 10 years ago. He ended up covered in blood with lacerations to his face and head. In the High Court on Thursday, the four members of the O'Brien family, of Tralee, Co Kerry, settled High Court actions over the incident. READ MORE Their counsel Padraig McCartan SC told the court Jamie (12) was extremely lucky he wasn't strapped in the buggy at the time of the crash on April 19th, 2015. He said the boy has been left with scars on his head and over his eyebrow. The boy settled his legal action for €75,000. Jamie's sister Megan (17) was seven years old at the time, and was also injured and had to be airlifted to hospital. He said the little girl was standing holding her father's hand when the car struck her and drove her back into the corner of the car park wall. Counsel said her parents Olivia and Alan O'Brien thought she was dead. She had multiple injuries and was airlifted to Cork University Hospital. She was in ICU and had to have four different surgeries. Her injuries included a large degloving injury to her ankle along with leg and rib fractures and knee and shoulder injuries. Counsel said the girl was in hospital about a month. Megan, who counsel said had now made a full recovery, settled her action for €250,000. The four family members had sued the driver of the car, David Murphy, Coole West, Athea, Co Limerick, along with Tralee Autosports Co Ltd trading as Kerry Motor Club with registered offices at Knockmoyle, Tralee, and Motorsport Ireland, with offices at Dawson Street, Dublin, and Kerry County Council. Mr Justice Paul Coffey was told that the actions brought by Mr and Mrs O'Brien had been settled and could be struck out. The terms of the settlement are confidential. In the proceedings, it was claimed there was an alleged failure to ensure that adequate safety mechanisms were in place on the circuit rally route and were such that would prevent injury to the spectators. It was further claimed there was an alleged failure to satisfactorily assess the adequacy of the position of the barriers and their distance from the route so as to ensure that any spectators watching from behind those barriers would be safe from danger. It was further contended there was an alleged failure to ensure the event was adequately marshalled. There was also, it was claimed, an alleged failure to prepare or implement any adequate safety plan. All of the claims were denied and it was denied that the car was being driven otherwise than in a manner that would have been expected at or as part of the preparation of a stage of a motor rally event on a closed road. Noting the adult settlements, Mr Justice Coffey also approved the €75,000 and €250,000 settlements for Jamie and Megan and said they were fair and reasonable. He wished the family well for the future.
