Nurse struck off over hit-and-run death of man, 82

Katrina Mahoney was found to have 73 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than twice the legal limit

A nurse who killed a great-grandfather in a drink-drive hit-and-run has been struck off.

Katrina Mahoney, 35, was more than double the alcohol limit when she left Ron Fealey, 82, on the side of the road after a Christmas Eve drink.

Mr Fealey had been to church and was hit by the car driven by Mahoney as he crossed the road on his way home in Merthyr Tydfil.

She left the scene before returning to tell police: "I had one Malibu and Baileys."

Driving at 40mph in a 20mph zone, her 14-year-old son was her passenger.

The crash left the windscreen of her vehicle shattered.

Retired nurse and church treasurer Mr Fealey was helped by bystanders but died in hospital two days later from a brain injury.

Mahoney was jailed for five years for causing death by careless driving while unfit through drink-driving.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council panel heard she hoped to return to the profession on being freed.

Simran Ghotra, for the NMC, told the hearing Mr Fealey urgently needed care but was left lying in the road "at risk of further injury."

"She was a band six nurse at the time and did not assist him, rather she made the decision to drive away, albeit she did return to the scene some 10 minutes later," she said.

Ms Ghotra said the public would consider her actions "deplorable".

Ron Fealey died in hospital after being hit by a car on Christmas Eve

Mahoney's barrister Thomas Buxton said she was taking steps to deal with her alcohol problems.

He said she felt ashamed but wanted a second chance.

"There is no prospect whatsoever of this act being repeated," Mr Buxton said.

The panel took into account Mahoney's engagement with prison services and positive testimonials from colleagues.

But it found her behaviour was "a breach of the fundamental tenets of the profession".

She was struck off but allowed an 18-month interim suspension order to allow for a possible appeal.

After the crash Mr Fealey's son Mike called his father's death a waste and drink-driving a "no-win situation".

He said: "He had his children and grandchildren and then great-grandchildren which was probably the highlight of his life, he loved spending time with all of them."