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Texas trial for drunk driving deaths

February 17, 2011

By Staff Reporter

Susan Moore, 58, was found to be at twice the drink drive limit when her Dodge Dakota smashed into a sports utility vehicle carrying Belfast natives Eileen McGurk, Paul McGurk and Patrick McAteer in September 2007.
Eileen McGurk, 39, died at the scene of the crash at Highway 71, near Austin, Texas.
Her husband Paul McGurk, 38, also suffered serious injuries. Doctors said he would most likely die; however he defied predictions by making a recovery.
A fourth person, Sharon Sanders – the partner of 55-year-old Patrick McAteer – was also injured.
A police investigation found that along with being drunk, Moore had driven across a central reservation and into oncoming traffic before crashing.
The impact of the collision instantly killed Eileen McGurk. Paul McGurk lost an arm and suffered a catalog of internal injuries. Drunk driver Moore, a nurse, suffered a broken wrist.
Last month, a grand jury ruled there was sufficient evidence for Moore to be brought to trial and indicted.
This led to her arrest on New Year’s Eve, her incarceration at Bastrop County Jail and a bond of $100,000 being set.
She will stand trial on one count of intoxication manslaughter and one count of intoxication assault.
Moore is due to enter a plea at a hearing on March 25.
Her attorney has applied for the bail bond to be reduced to a “reasonable” $25,000.
The McGurk family is expected to travel from Belfast to Texas for the trial. The case will be prosecuted by First Assistant District Attorney General, Greg Gilleland.

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