Driver who ran over and killed Ryanair flight attendant jailed
- Kieran Cooney was distracted by textual content messages from his companion earlier than crash
A driver who killed a Ryanair flight attentendant in a horrific highway crash as he despatched a one phrase textual content message to his companion about their youngster’s nappy has been jailed for 3 years.
Cinzia Ceravolo, 36, was returning house after two days away with work and had simply arrived again at Liverpool John Lennon Airport on a flight from Dublin shortly after 11.15pm on Monday, August 22, 2022.
As she was crossing the highway close to the airport, she was hit by Kieran Cooney, 31 driving a Ford Focus.
An investigation discovered dad-of-one Cooney had used his telephone within the seconds earlier than he hit Ms Ceravolo.
Just moments earlier than the crash, he obtained two textual content messages from his companion, one about their kid’s nappy.
He had despatched a one-word reply saying ‘actually’. But this was sufficient of a distraction for Cooney to not see Ms Ceravolo, the courtroom heard on December 14.
Ms Ceravolo (pictured), an Italian nationwide, was rushed to Aintree Hospital and transferred to the Walton Centre the place she died from a number of accidents 4 days after she was hit
Cooney (pictured), of Blackrod Avenue in Speke, was jailed by Judge Andrew Menary KC for 3 years in jail
Cooney was examined for medicine on the scene the place he was discovered to have metabolite of cocaine in his system and was over the restrict.
According to Henry Riding, prosecuting, Cooney had ‘taken a line of cocaine’ at a Coldplay live performance in London on the Saturday earlier than the incident.
However a health drug check confirmed the medicine didn’t impair the 31-year-old’s driving.
A witness had seen ms Ceravolo crossing the highway ‘extra slowly than anticipated’ and ‘barely diagonal’ on the crossing, the courtroom heard.
Mr Riding mentioned: ‘Ms Ceravolo might or might not have been utilizing her telephone as she crossed the highway.
‘Ms Ceravolo had requested a taxi to gather her from that space. However, the taxi driver arrived earlier and after ready departed.
‘There is a excessive chance the sufferer was on her telephone to see the place the taxi driver was, however we have no idea for positive.’
Cooney was not dashing within the 40mph zone and investigations discovered he was driving at round 36-37mph.
The highway was clear on the time and illuminated by streetlights and Cooney’s Ford Focus was discovered to not have any defects.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that on December 14, Cooney was travelling on Hale Road to return to his companion’s home.
Tributes flooded in for Ryanair flight attendant Cinzia Ceravolo (pictured), 36, who died 4 days later
The incident occurred simply exterior John Lennon Airport in Liverpool shortly after 11.15pm on Monday, August 22, 2022
When emergency companies arrived on the scene, officers described Cooney as being in a ‘distressed state’ and ‘pacing’.
Ms Ceravolo, an Italian nationwide, was rushed to Aintree Hospital and transferred to the Walton Centre the place she died from a number of accidents 4 days after she was hit.
Mr Riding additionally learn out a sufferer influence assertion on behalf of Ms Ceravolo’s mum, Marisa Orlando.
She described the devastation her household and Ms Ceravolo’s pals felt after she was killed. She mentioned, ‘the ache is within the air’.
She added: ‘Cinzia was the flower we wished for and wished and now she is so distant.’
Her mom additionally described how a whole lot of individuals attended a service for her daughter in Italy after her loss of life.
Ms Ceravolo donated her organs which helped three boys right here within the UK.
Marisa Orlando added: ‘He didn’t solely destroy Cinzia’s life however that of a complete household, and plenty of pals and kinfolk mourn her as a result of she was a particular human being, a beneficiant girl who gave life to a few English boys together with her donated organs.’
Ms Ceravolo had moved to Liverpool for her love of English literature and music and to make a profession right here.
The courtroom heard Cooney had obtained a warning in 2013 for possession of cocaine and in March 2021 was stopped by police for being ‘not in correct management of a motorized vehicle’.
He was discovered to have a cell phone in his hand and mentioned he was utilizing it as a satnav and was allowed to attend an consciousness course.
Christopher Stables, defending, mentioned Cooney was ‘hardworking’ and a ‘household man’.
Mr Stables informed the courtroom that the 31-year-old ‘cannot cease eager about the influence this has on the sufferer’s household’, can not sleep and has change into withdrawn. He added the dad-of-one is ‘deeply remorseful’.
Cooney, of Blackrod Avenue in Speke, was jailed by Judge Andrew Menary KC for 3 years in jail for loss of life by harmful driving and was banned from driving for six and a half years.
Judge Menary mentioned: ‘The loss to her household is big. She was a succesful girl with a zest for all times. Ms Ceravolo had come to this nation to pursue her profession and expertise the tradition and her clever pursuits.’ He added the lives of the 36-year-old’s household had been ‘irrevocably broken’.
The choose additionally warned others who might use their telephone whereas driving and mentioned ‘there isn’t any excuse for utilizing a cell phone whereas driving to make calls, ship messages or take a look at social media.’
Such actions could cause ‘injury to so many lives’ and utilizing a cell phone must be likened to drink driving, the choose mentioned.
Judge Menary added: ‘If folks suppose it will not occur to them, they could wish to suppose and to take a look at this case and see how a good, hard-working artificial a horrible consequence.’
