Trial Date Set For Men Accused Of Causing Great Grandmother’s Death

​Two men accused of causing the death of a great grandmother by dangerous driving have appeared before a judge at Carlisle Crown Court, where a trial date has been set. 

The collision happened at around 4.25pm on Tuesday, May 26, when Mrs Livingstone and her grandchild were crossing Ennerdale Road in Cleator Moor. They were involved in a collision with a motorbike, which led to a police investigation and criminal proceedings against three men.

Shaun Rafferty, aged 22, and Stefan Young, aged 24, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court on Friday, September 4. The pair jointly face an allegation of causing Mrs Livingstone’s death by dangerous driving involving two mechanically propelled vehicles.

The vehicles referred to in the charge were Yamaha quad bikes, which the prosecution alleges were being driven dangerously on roads in Cleator Moor, including Ennerdale Road. The allegation against the two men relates to the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision.

During the hearing, Judge Nicholas Barker noted that the prosecution was alleging that racing between vehicles had taken place on the date Mrs Livingstone died. The allegation will be considered as part of the proceedings when the case reaches trial.

No pleas were formally entered by either Rafferty or Young during the latest hearing. However, lawyers representing both men indicated that they intend to plead not guilty to the allegation when pleas are formally entered at a later stage.

Rafferty is from Hunters Drive in Seaton, while Young is from Station Cottages in Moresby Parks. Both men are due to stand trial alongside a third defendant, 22 year old Kieran Yorke of Workington.

The trial has been listed to begin at Carlisle Crown Court on July 19, 2027. It is currently expected to last approximately five days, although the length of proceedings could be subject to change depending on how the case develops.

Rafferty and Young were released on conditional bail following the hearing. Their next appearance is currently scheduled for October 2, 2027, when further proceedings in the case are expected to take place.

Yorke is also on bail and is facing separate allegations connected with the death of Mrs Livingstone and the serious injury suffered by her grandchild. His case has already progressed further through the Crown Court.

During a Crown Court hearing in June, Yorke pleaded not guilty to allegations that he caused Mrs Livingstone’s death by dangerously driving a Husqvarna 701 Enduro motorcycle on Ennerdale Road.

Yorke also pleaded not guilty to an allegation that he caused serious injury to Mrs Livingstone’s grandchild by dangerously driving the same motorcycle. Those allegations remain matters for the court to determine.

The proceedings relate to the fatal collision in Cleator Moor in which Mrs Livingstone lost her life. The court will now consider the evidence and allegations against the three defendants as the case progresses towards the scheduled trial.

The three men are accused of offences involving dangerous driving, but no findings of guilt have been made against any of them. Rafferty and Young are expected to formally enter their not guilty pleas in due course, while Yorke has already denied the allegations against him.

The trial is scheduled for July 19, 2027, at Carlisle Crown Court and is presently expected to continue for around five days. Until the case is heard, the allegations against the three defendants remain unproven.

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