Driver jailed for killing an Italian air stewardess after he'd been texting

A man who had taken cocaine and had been texting his girlfriend when the car he was driving knocked down and killed an Italian air hostess has been jailed for three years.

Kieran Cooney, 30, of Blackrod Avenue in Speke, was driving his Ford Focus on Hale Road in Speke near midnight on 22 August 2022, when he collided with Cinzia Ceravolo, 36, an Italian national who was living in Liverpool.

She was employed as a cabin steward by Ryanair and had returned to Liverpool on a flight that night and was making her way home when she was hit.

Hale Road runs along the perimeter of Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Mr Cooney was driving at around 41 mph at the time of the impact. The speed limit on that section of the road is 40mph.

He had been receiving text messages from his girlfriend, which he read. He also responded with one message which was sent seven seconds before he hit Ms Ceravolo as she crossed the road.

Ms Ceravolo was taken to University Hospital Aintree and then transferred to Walton Neurological Centre where staff battled to save her life, but treatment was withdrawn eventually as she was unresponsive. She died on 27 August 2022.

Mr Cooney had been to watch a football match and was driving to his girlfriend’s house when the crash happened.
He remained at the scene as members of the public tried to give Ms Ceravolo first aid. He was arrested at the scene. He tested negative for alcohol but positive for cocaine.

He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and driving while the proportion of cocaine in his system was over the limit. He pleaded guilty on 27 October 2023 at Liverpool Crown Court. Today, 14 December, at the same court he was sentenced to three years in jail and disqualified from driving for six and half years.

The family of Ms Ceravolo could not travel from Italy to attend the hearing but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) arranged for members of her family to watch proceedings from a police station in Rome, via a video link and an interpreter was provided.

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 Ms 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 Ms Ceravolo.”