Champion jockey admits drink driving charge after crashing into a tree
Murphy, 29, appeared at Reading Magistrates' Court on Thursday afternoon where he pleaded guilty to one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol.
He was not asked to plead on another count of failing to cooperate with a preliminary test at the roadside.
The jockey, of Beales Farm Road, Lambourn, Hungerford, was charged by postal requisition on June 19 after he drove his grey Mercedes A Class off the road and into a tree in Hermitage, Berkshire, at about 12.05am on April 27.
He will be sentenced later on Thursday.
Murphy, who grew up in Killarney, Co Kerry, has been crowned UK champion jockey four times – in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2024.
He was among the winners at the Doncaster Racecourse Supporting Racing Staff Week Handicap last week, and rode five winners at Royal Ascot earlier in June.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
15 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Supreme Court clears way for deportation to South Sudan of immigrants with no ties there
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for the deportation of several immigrants who were put on a flight in May bound for South Sudan, a war-ravaged country where they have no ties. The decision comes after the court's conservative majority found that immigration officials can quickly deport people to third countries. The majority halted an order that had allowed immigrants to challenge any removals to countries outside their homeland where they could be in danger. The court's latest decision makes clear that the South Sudan flight can complete the trip, weeks after it was detoured to a naval base in Djibouti where the migrants who had previously been convicted of serious crimes were held in a converted shipping container. It reverses findings from federal Judge Brian Murphy in Massachusetts, who said his order on those migrants still stands even after the high court lifted his broader decision. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the flight would be completed quickly and they could be in South Sudan by Friday. The Supreme Court majority wrote that their decision on June 23 completely halted Murphy's ruling and also rendered his decision on the South Sudan flight 'unenforceable.' The court did not fully detail its legal reasoning on the underlying case, as is common on its emergency docket. Two liberal justices, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, dissented, saying the ruling gives the government special treatment. 'Other litigants must follow the rules, but the administration has the Supreme Court on speed dial,' Sotomayor wrote. Justice Elena Kagan wrote that while she disagreed with the original order, it does countermand Murphy's findings on the South Sudan flight. Attorneys for the eight migrants have said they could face 'imprisonment, torture and even death' if sent to South Sudan, where escalating political tensions have threatened to devolve into another civil war. 'We know they'll face perilous conditions, and potentially immediate detention, upon arrival,' Trina Realmuto, executive director of the National Immigration Litigation Alliance, said Thursday. The push comes amid a sweeping immigration crackdown by Trump's Republican administration, which has pledged to deport millions of people who are living in the United States illegally. The Trump administration has called Murphy's finding 'a lawless act of defiance.' McLaughlin called Thursday's decision 'a win for the rule of law, safety and security of the American people.' Authorities have reached agreements with other countries to house immigrants if authorities can't quickly send them back to their homelands. The eight men sent to South Sudan in May had been convicted of crimes in the U.S. and had final orders of removal, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have said. Murphy, who was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden, didn't prohibit deportations to third countries. But he found migrants must have a real chance to argue they could be in danger of torture if sent to another country, even if they've already exhausted their legal appeals. The men and their guards have faced rough conditions on the naval base in Djibouti where authorities detoured the flight after Murphy found the administration had violated his order by failing allow them a chance to challenge the removal. They have since expressed a fear of being sent to South Sudan, Realmuto said.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘I have let a lot of people down' – Champion jockey apologises for drink-driving
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has apologised after a judge fined him £70,000 for crashing a car into a tree while drink-driving earlier this year. Murphy, 29, drove his grey Mercedes A-Class off the road and into a tree in Hermitage, West Berkshire, at about 12.05am on April 27. He was also banned from driving for a period of 20 months after pleading guilty at Reading Magistrates' Court on Thursday to one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol. Murphy, who was with a passenger at the time, published a statement on Thursday evening in which he apologised for the offence. 'I would like to sincerely apologise for my actions,' he wrote. 'I know that drink driving is unacceptable and there is no excuse for what I did. 'I have let a lot of people down. I particularly want to apologise to my passenger and her family. 'I have so far been able to share only minimal details of my offence with the British Horseracing Authority as a result of the police investigation. 'I will now be fully co-operative with their enquiries. 'It would not be appropriate for me to comment further until that process is concluded.' Murphy, of Beales Farm Road, Lambourn, Hungerford, was taken to hospital after the crash, along with his passenger. He was later discharged to take a breathalyser test at a police station at about 7am, which showed a reading of 66mg per 100 millilitres of breath. This meant he was 'just shy of twice above the drink-driving limit' at the time of driving, prosecutor Richard Atkins told the court earlier on Thursday. Murphy – who rode five winners at Royal Ascot last month – received a £70,000 fine, with a £2,000 surcharge and £85 in costs. The figure was calculated based on his annual earnings, which the court heard are in the region of £250,000 a year, in addition to a weekly salary of £1,250. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) said Murphy will remain free to continue riding, but new conditions are likely to be added to his licence as a result of his conviction. 'Everyone at the BHA, like all involved in our sport, is disappointed today having learned the details of the offence to which Oisin Murphy has pleaded guilty,' a spokesperson for the BHA said in a statement. 'This is a very serious offence that, in the course of being committed, saw Mr Murphy jeopardise not only his own safety but that of his passenger and all other people travelling on the roads at the same time as him that night. 'His conduct fell a long way short of the standard we expect of all licensed individuals, in whom we place trust that they will represent our sport to the best of their abilities, upholding our collective reputation and ensuring racing is a safe place for all. 'In light of Mr Murphy's guilty plea and the information revealed in court today, we will be working on the addition of new conditions on his licence that may be referred to the Licensing Committee for their consideration. 'As has been the case in recent weeks, Mr Murphy remains free to take up his riding engagements.' The BHA added: 'We will issue an update on this process in due course and will be making no further comment at this time.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy fined £70,000 after admitting drink-driving
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has been fined £70,000 after he admitted driving a car while drunk and crashing into a tree earlier this year. Murphy, 29, of Beales Farm Road, Lambourn, Hungerford, was also banned from driving for a period of 20 months at Reading Magistrates' Court on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol. He was charged by postal requisition on June 19 after he drove his grey Mercedes A Class off the road and into a tree in Hermitage, Berkshire, at about 12.05am on April 27. He had a passenger with him at the time, who was the owner of the car, the court heard. They were both taken to hospital after the crash. Murphy was later discharged to take a breathalyser test at a police station at about 7am, which showed a reading of 66mg per 100 millilitres of breath. This meant he was 'just shy of twice above the drink-driving limit' at the time of driving, prosecutor Richard Atkins told the court. Sporting a dark blue suit, white shirt and tie, Murphy only spoke to confirm his name, date of birth, and address, before entering his guilty plea. Judge Sam Goozee, sentencing, told Murphy: 'You are lucky that neither you, your passenger, or the public were injured by your actions. 'I do balance that with the remorse you have shown for your actions. 'You have also recognised that you have let the public down by virtue of your actions, and your colleagues in the racing world.' Murphy's defence barrister Alex Di Francesco offered the court an apology on behalf of his client. Mr Di Francesco said: 'He wants to apologise, first to his passenger, to the public and other road users… and he wants to apologise to those whom he works alongside with.' Murphy received a £70,000 fine, with a £2,000 surcharge and £85 in costs. The figure was calculated based on his annual earnings, which the court heard are in the region of £250,000 a year, in addition to a weekly salary of £1,250.
