A
man from Liverpool has been jailed for killing a 36-year-old air
stewardess in a collision in August last year near John Lennon Airport.
Kieran
Cooney, aged 31, of Blackrod Avenue in Speke was sentenced to three
years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court today (Thursday 14 December).
Due to Cooney’s guilty plea the Judge deducted the jail term from four
to three years. A six and half year driving disqualification was also
imposed.
At around 11.45pm on Monday 22 August 2022, emergency
services were called to Hale Road at the junction with John Lennon
Airport access road to reports of a collision involving a Ford Focus and
a female pedestrian.
The pedestrian, 36-year-old Cinzia
Ceravolo, from South Liverpool, was taken to hospital with head injuries
and sadly died on 26 August.
Italian national Cinzia, who was an air stewardess with Ryanair, lived in the UK for the past five years.
She
had been returning from two days away with work and had arrived into
Liverpool airport on Ryanair flight FR448 from Dublin at 11.20pm that
night.
Cooney provided a positive roadside test for cocaine
after the incident, was arrested by police and later charged. The
investigation then revealed that Cooney had also been using his mobile
phone whilst driving towards the airport just before the collision.
Senior
Investigating Officer Detective Constable Jack Hearnden from Merseyside
Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “Cinzia’s family
have been devastated by the events of Monday 22nd August last year.
Whilst Cinzia lived and worked in the UK her family had remained in
Southern Italy.
“The family had to travel in the immediate
aftermath to spend the last moments with Cinzia making difficult
decisions for her organs to be donated. For this she received the Order
of St John in September this year which the family are so proud of the
fact Cinzia was still able to help others. They have been supported
throughout following their return to Italy but due to personal
circumstance and health they have unfortunately been unable to travel
for sentence but have remained involved throughout.
“In a
statement Cinzia’s mother Marisa said: “We were told that Cinzia would
not be able to recover from her injuries so we did what she would have
wanted, we made sure her organs could give life to other people.
She
then said: “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.”
Detective Constable Jack Hearnden
said: “This collision goes to highlight the dangers of using a mobile
phone whilst driving and driving whilst under the influence of drink or
drugs.
“In this case, sending a text message containing a
single word was enough of a distraction that Mr Cooney did not see the
pedestrian crossing the road. That single word message combined with the
fact that Cooney had illicit drugs in his blood cost Cinzia her life.
“Mr
Cooney’s young family now no longer have him at home for Christmas
which is a small penalty to pay in comparison with the life sentence
imposed on the Ceravolo family.
“Since the 20th November
Merseyside Police have been participating in the national Operation
Limit, targeting drivers under the influence or alcohol and drugs. So
far 357 drivers have been arrested for these offences and the events of
August 2022 go to show that any single one of these offences could have
resulted in a fatality.
“Drug driving and drink driving
shatters lives. Just one drink above the limit, taking an illegal
substance or certain prescription medication can slow your response time
and significantly impair your ability to drive.
“If you injure,
or even worse, kill another person after having had too much to drink
or driving after having taken either legal or illegal drugs you will
have to deal with it being on your conscience for the rest of your life.
You will have to potentially see that person’s loved ones in court. The
shame and guilt is horrendous, but that will be nothing compared to
what your victim and their friends and family will be enduring.”
Senior
Crown Prosecutor Joshua Sanderson-Kirk of CPS Mersey- Cheshire said:
“This was a tragic case in which the CPS and Merseyside Police have
worked closely to ensure the defendant was brought to justice.
“A
number of members of the public stopped at the scene and tried to help
Miss Ceravolo, they then became witnesses and helped us to present the
case against Mr Cooney. I’d like to thank them for their assistance.
“This
case serves as a reminder that the use of a mobile phone when driving
and the taking of drugs can have tragic consequences. The family of Ms
Ceravolo have written about her love of the culture and music of
England, particularly Liverpool, and why she chose to make her home
here. She was clearly loved deeply by all who knew her. I would like
to take this opportunity to offer my most sincere condolences to the
friends and family of Miss Ceravolo.”
Man jailed after a 36-year-old woman sadly died in a collision in Liverpool
