Mabli Hall: Woman jailed for four years for causing eight-month-old baby’s death
A woman has been sentenced to four years in prison for causing the death of an eight-month-old baby by dangerous driving.
Bridget Curtis, 71, had previously pleaded guilty to causing the death of Mabli Cariad Hall outside Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.
Mabli was airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff after she was hit by a white BMW on Wednesday 21 June 2023.
She was later moved to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children where she died four days later.
Pic: Family handout
‘Entirely tragic’
Swansea Crown Court heard Mabli and her family were visiting her grandmother, who was receiving end-of-life care at the hospital, when the crash happened.
Prosecuting, Craig Jones said it was an “entirely tragic” case.
He said Mabli was “very nearly nine months” when she died, a day when the weather conditions were “fine and dry”.
Mabli was with her father in a grassed area under some trees opposite the hospital’s entrance.
“Mr Hall put Mabli back into her pushchair and was adjusting the straps when he heard the sound of an approaching vehicle,” Mr Jones said.
Bridget Curtis. File pic: Rex
The court heard that Curtis had given her daughter a lift to the hospital for an appointment and had stopped the car outside the main entrance.
After she was dropped off, her daughter went to retrieve her handbag from the back of the car but was “unable to see the bag and tapped the window to attract her mother’s attention”.
“With the engine running, [the defendant] turned around from her seat to look in the back,” he said.
“The defendant had failed to switch off the vehicle and had failed to place the car, which was an automatic-geared vehicle, into a parked setting.”
In a period of four and a half seconds, the vehicle reached a top speed of 29 miles per hour and travelled a distance of 28 metres.
‘So beautiful’
In a victim impact statement, Rob Hall told the court he remembered Mabli “smiling at [him], making her cute noises”.
He said the “violent revving, screeching tyres” of the car was something he saw and heard “daily”.
Mr Hall said that after Mabli’s death, his family “were numb, felt helpless and destroyed”.
“This struggle continues to this day, and will always be there. Life from then until now has been horrendous. It’s been so hard to live this life,” he said.
“It’s exhausting, we’re drained, and I just don’t know how we recover from such trauma.”
Pic: Family handout
Mabli’s mother, Gwen Hall, also read a victim impact statement from the witness box, telling the court the day Mabli died was the day her life “irreversibly changed for the worse”.
“She had said ‘Mamma’ for the first time only the day before,” she said.
Ms Hall said the family was “heartbroken”, but that the word “does not do justice to how broken and destroyed we are as a family”.
“Everyone needs to remember that Mabli was eight months old, she was so bright, so beautiful and so full of love and life. She was the apple of all our eye,” Ms Hall added.
“She was my best friend, my shadow, my second skin.”
‘Devastation of their lives’
In mitigation, Mr John Dye said the defendant had “led a blameless, law-abiding life”.
He said she had shown “extremely genuine remorse” and had written a letter to Mabli’s family.
The court heard Curtis had “ongoing mobility issues” and had caring responsibilities for her adult daughter.
Handing down his sentence of four years in prison, Judge Geraint Walters said “loving parents, siblings and a wider extended family suffered the devastation of their lives”.
“That is because that day, they suffered that which each parent dreads, the loss of a much-cherished child, then just eight months old,” he said.
“Her life was taken from her senselessly, and indeed needlessly, as a result of your actions.”
The judge said the case was aggravated by the fact that others were struck by the vehicle, namely Mabli’s father and uncle.
As well as the custodial sentence, Curtis was also disqualified from driving for eight years and would have to undergo a driving test before she could re-apply for a licence.
Pic: GoFundMe
Addressing the media outside court, Mabli’s grandfather, Paul Sambrook, thanked “everyone who [had] been part of the process to secure justice for Mabli Cariad”.
“We’ve waited over 18 months for this day and finally this nightmarish chapter has come to an end,” he said.
“We’ll go home now and start to live our lives without Mabli. She was the sunshine who lit up our lives in so many ways, but now we have to focus on helping the other children of the family to cope with the loss and find a new way forward.
“If there is anything to learn from the pain and bereavement, this is what it is. Take care every time you sit behind the wheel of your car, think carefully about your own safety as well as the safety of others.”
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Iwan Jenkins from CPS Wales told Sky News that nothing could change “the tragic events of that day”.
“Although the criminal case has concluded, our thoughts remain with Mabli’s family over their heart-breaking loss and with everybody who received injuries on that day,” he added.
UK
UK weather: Rare red warning for parts of UK ahead of Storm Eowyn – with tornado and ‘danger to life’ alerts
A rare red alert for “very strong” wind has been issued for parts of the UK ahead of Storm Eowyn.
The alert, which covers all of Northern Ireland from 7am on Friday until 2pm, and parts of Scotland from 10am to 5pm, warns of “very dangerous conditions” and “widespread disruption”.
Tornados could also hit parts of the UK today, ahead of the storm, with forecasters warning of a danger to life.
The Met Office said changing conditions could trigger an explosive cyclogenesis – or weather bomb – with strong winds, rain, snow and gusts of up to 90mph expected on Friday.
The red alert is the Met Office’s most serious warning and means the weather is likely to cause “substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure”, according to the agency.
A rare red weather warning issued for Northern Ireland. Pic: Met Office
A series of amber and yellow warnings have also been put in place, threatening injuries and a danger to life.
Ahead of the strong gusts, all schools in Northern Ireland have been advised to close on Friday by the Education Authority.
Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan said: “I understand this will impact on the work of schools and indeed on other businesses and services, but the decision has been taken to avoid any potential risk to life for children and young people as well as staff.
“Schools should put plans in place today for remote learning so that pupils can study at home.”
The record for a gust in Northern Ireland is 124mph in Kilkeel, Co Down, in January 1974.
Across the border, Met Eireann has issued a rare nationwide red warning for wind across the Republic of Ireland, describing possible “danger to life”.
Irish premier Simon Harris has warned there is an “extreme” risk to life.
He said he had been briefed on the storm approaching Ireland from midnight, adding: “Storm Eowyn is dangerous, destructive and damaging.
“We cannot give a higher warning than nationwide red. The risk to life is extreme and real.
“You need to pay attention. Do not travel. Do not go near the sea.”
Read the full Sky News weather forecast
European storm forecasters Estofex issued a level 2 alert, saying there was a “risk of a few tornados” between 6am on Thursday and 6am on Friday.
The Estofex forecast map for Friday
“A strong event cannot be ruled out,” the meteorologists said.
“Given rapid translation of thunderstorms, any tornado could be long-tracked… The main tornado risk seems to evolve along and [south] of a Bristol-London line.”
Met Office forecasters explained the storm had a central air pressure of 1001hPa as of Wednesday evening, but this was expected to drop by 62hPa by the early hours of Friday.
“This is known as explosive cyclogenesis or a weather bomb and will bring damaging winds to some areas,” they said.
The major change in the UK’s weather was starting on Thursday, the Met Office said, with heavy rain and strong gusts triggered by a powerful jet stream pushing low pressure across the Atlantic and towards the country after a recent cold spell over North America.
The south coast of England, parts of the South West and much of the Welsh coast are covered by a yellow weather warning for wind from 7am until 6pm on Thursday.
A series of weather warnings are in place for Friday. Pic: Met Office
Some coastal routes and sea fronts in these areas will be affected by spray or large waves, the national weather service said.
But as the storm arrives on Friday, rain and even snow is expected over parts of Northern Ireland, Scotland and on higher ground in northern England.
The whole country is covered by at least one yellow weather warning on Friday, with warnings for snow, wind and rain in place.
The Met Office says the strongest winds are due to hit the north of England, south of Scotland and North Wales, where an amber wind warning is in place from 6am to 9pm on Friday – but the south of the country will also be affected.
Gusts of up to 90mph are more likely to be found along the more exposed coastal areas, while winds of between 60 and 70mph are expected inland.
The Met Office advised people to secure loose items outside homes as there could be a danger to life caused by flying debris.
Meanwhile, a rare, red wind warning has been issued by Ireland‘s weather service ahead of the arrival of Storm Eowyn, threatening to bring “severe, damaging and destructive gusts”.
Red wind warnings have been issued across Ireland for Friday. Pic: Met Eireann
Gale force southerly winds turning to the west are set to bring “extremely destructive gusts in excess of 130kmh [80mph]” on Friday, according to Met Eireann.
The “status red” warnings are in effect across all of Ireland’s 26 counties, throughout Friday morning and into the afternoon for some counties.
Mike Silverstone, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office said: “Storm Eowyn is expected to bring very strong winds and widespread disruption on Friday. There are currently a number of weather warnings in place, with all parts of the UK covered by one warning at some point on Friday.
“Storm Eowyn is expected to cross Northern Ireland early on Friday morning. It will then continue north-east across the northern half of Scotland during Friday afternoon and is expected to be centred near Shetland during Friday evening.”
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National Highways, which operates motorways and major A roads in England, has urged motorists in the North West, North East and Yorkshire to plan for disruption on Friday.
It has warned of “a particularly high risk” that high-sided vehicles, caravans and motorbikes could be blown over.
Rail passengers also face being stranded in the north of England, as LNER warned there would be no trains in either direction north of Newcastle from 11am on Friday.
“Services north of York will also be subject to short-notice cancellation and significant delay,” an LNER spokesperson said.
“Alternative travel options will be limited due to the nature of the weather.”
Traffic Wales has said it expects “high winds” may result in the closure of Britannia Bridge on Friday, which connects the island of Anglesey with the city of Bangor.
In Scotland, a number of CalMac services scheduled for Friday have been cancelled.
The ferry operator has further warned that afternoon sailings on Thursday may also be “liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice”.
Meanwhile, ScotRail said it is currently working with industry partners and will share information on what impact the storm will bring to services “shortly”.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney posted on X: “Now that a rare red weather warning has been issued, I ask everyone to follow the advice that will be set out.
“It is vital we all do this to keep safe.”
Forecasters are warning of heavy rain along with strong winds on Thursday ahead of Storm Eowyn, which threatens to bring dangerous gusts of up to 90mph.
Coastal areas across much of Wales, southwestern and southern England are covered by a yellow warning between 7am and 6pm on Thursday.
Winds could reach 50-60mph over exposed coasts and hills with the peak times affecting western areas during the morning and eastern areas in the afternoon.
A yellow wind warning on Thursday could bring gusts of 50-60mph
It comes ahead of an amber wind alert for some areas of the UK from 6am through to 9pm on Friday, with the Met Office warning there could be “a danger to life” due to flying debris.
Parts of northern England and Scotland are expected to face gusts of up to 60-70mph fairly widely, but 80-90mph along more exposed parts.
Check the latest weather forecast for your area
An amber warning applies between 6am and 9pm on Friday
Met Office yellow and amber warnings on Friday ahead of Storm Eowyn
Widespread disruption
Eowyn is expected to bring “very strong winds and widespread disruption”, according to the Met Office.
There are separate yellow warnings for wind, rain and snow covering various parts of the UK on Friday, with a yellow warning for wind in Scotland continuing until 3pm on Saturday.
Seaham Harbour in County Durham when Storm Darragh hit in December. Now Storm Eowyn threatens this area on Friday. File pic: PA
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Storm Eowyn set to wreak havoc across UK
Red warnings across Ireland
Meanwhile, a rare, red wind warning has been issued by Ireland’s weather service ahead of the arrival of Storm Eowyn, threatening to bring “severe, damaging and destructive gusts”.
Gale force southerly winds turning to the west are set to bring “extremely destructive gusts in excess of 130kmh [80mph]” on Friday, according to Met Eireann.
The “status red” warnings are in effect across all of Ireland’s 26 counties, throughout Friday morning and into the afternoon for some counties.
Across all counties, Met Eireann warns of “danger to life” conditions, with potential impacts including fallen trees, power outages, dangerous waves on the coast, structural damage and travel disruption.
Red wind warnings have been issued across Ireland for Friday. Pic: Met Eireann
A red warning is only issued for “rare and very dangerous weather conditions”, according to the forecaster.
Meanwhile, a “status orange” warning – the same level as “amber” in the UK – also applies to all of Ireland’s counties between 2am and 5pm on Friday.
Almost exactly a year after Storm Jocelyn battered Fanore in County Clare, the same area is covered by a red warning ahead of Storm Eowyn on Friday. File pic: PA
Met Eireann said it will start to become “very stormy” on Thursday night, before the centre of Storm Eowyn tracks just off the northwest coast on Friday morning.
All of Northern Ireland, covered by the Met Office, is also under amber warnings for wind on Friday.
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Sky News weather producer Chris England warned that parts of the UK also face rain and snow.
“Expect up to 4cm (1.6in) of rain over the Welsh hills, up to 10cm (4in) of snow over the hills of northern England and southern Scotland for a time and up to 25cm (10in) of snow over the hills further north,” he said.
“Drifting and blizzard conditions are likely, given the strong winds.”
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