15 December 2023 , 10:11
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A woman died in hospital four days after she was hit by a driver who had been sending mundane text messages about his child's nappy when he ploughed into her.
Ryanair flight attendant Cinzia Ceravolo was hit by a Ford Focus being driven by Kieran Cooney as she was returning home from Liverpool John Lennon airport, after arriving on a flight from Dublin on Monday, August 22 last year. Liverpool Crown Court heard on that Cooney, 31, was travelling to his partner's house when he hit Ms Ceravolo as she crossed the road.
Emergency services arrived at the scene and officers described Cooney as being in a "distressed state" and "pacing". The 36-year-old Italian national was rushed to Aintree Hospital but she later died from multiple injuries. At the scene Cooney was tested for drugs where it was found he had metabolite of cocaine in his system and was over the limit.
Prosecutor Henry Riding told the court Cooney had "taken a line of cocaine" at a Coldplay concert in London on the Saturday before the incident. However a fitness drug test, designed to reflect zero tolerance, showed the drugs did not impair the 31-year-old's driving. An investigation found the dad-of-one had used his phone seconds before he hit Ms Ceravolo.
Cinzia Ceravolo was hit by a car while crossing the road (Merseyside Police WS)Cooney had received two text messages from his partner, one regarding their child's nappy, and he had sent a one-word reply saying "really". The court heard one other text message was sent after the crash. Mr Riding said a witness had seen Ms Ceravolo crossing the road "more slowly then expected" and "slightly diagonal" at the crossing.
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Mr Riding said: "The pedestrian [Ms Ceravolo] may or may not have been using her phone as she crossed the road. Ms Ceravolo had requested a taxi to collect her from that area. However, the taxi driver arrived earlier and after waiting departed. There is high probability the victim was on her phone to see where the taxi driver was, but we do not know for sure."
The court heard how it was the responsibility of the driver to be aware of their surroundings. Cooney was not speeding in the 40mph zone and investigations found he was driving at around 36 to 37mph. The road was clear at the time and illuminated by streetlights and Cooney's Ford Focus was found to not have any defects.
Mr Riding read out a victim impact statement on behalf of Ms Ceravolo's mum, Marisa Orlando. She described the devastation her family and Ms Ceravolo's friends felt after she was killed she said "the pain is in the air". Mrs Orlando said: "Cinzia was the flower we wished for and wanted and now she is so far away."
The grieving mum described how hundreds of people attended a service for her daughter in Italy and after her death. Ms Ceravolo donated her organs which helped three boys in the UK. Ms Orlando added: “He did not only destroy Cinzia's life but that of a whole family, and many friends and relatives mourn her because she was a special human being, a generous woman who gave life to three English boys with her donated organs.” Ms Ceravolo had moved to Liverpool for her love of English literature and music and to make a career here.
The court heard Cooney had received a caution in 2013 for possession of cocaine and in March 2021 was stopped by police for being "not in proper control of a motor vehicle". He was found to have a mobile phone in his hand and said he was using it as a satnav and was allowed to attend an awareness course.
Defending Cooney, Christopher Stables said he was "hardworking" and a "family man". Mr Stables told the court that the 31-year-old "can not stop thinking about the impact this has on the victim's family", cannot sleep and has become withdrawn. He added the dad-of-one is "deeply remorseful".
Judge Andrew Menary KC jailed Cooney, of Blackrod Avenue in Speke, to three years in prison for death by dangerous driving and was banned from driving for six and half years. The judge said Cooney caused the death of Ms Ceravolo due to being "distracted" by "mundane messages" he had received and the one he sent.
Judge Menary said: "The loss to her family is enormous. She was a capable woman with a zest for life. Ms Ceravolo had come to this country to pursue her career and experience the culture and her intelligent interests." He added the lives of the 36-year-old's family were "irrevocably damaged".
The judge also warned others who may use their phone while driving and said "there is no excuse for using a mobile phone while driving to make calls, send messages or look at social media." He said such actions can cause "damage to so many lives" and using a mobile phone should be likened to drink driving.
Judge Menary said: "If people think it won't happen to them, they may want to think and to look at this case and see how a decent, hard working man made a terrible consequence."
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