Enniskillen Court House, RMGFH04
An 18-year-old Enniskillen R driver who crashed his car into a bridge after pulling the handbrake at speed before a junction has appeared in court.
Edward Allan of Devenish Crescent was convicted at Enniskillen Magistrates Court of dangerous driving in relation to a road crash in Monea, in which he caused injury to his three passengers. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £200.
The prosecutor outlined that on June 27, 2015 at 11.30pm police were called to a report of a one vehicle crash on the Dairies Road, Monea. A black Vauxhall Corsa had collided with a bridge and the vehicle displayed R plates. Police spoke to the driver Allan, one of four passengers in the vehicle who told them he had passed his test on March 31.
He explained that coming down towards the junction he lost control of the car causing the collision with the bridge. Allan said he had been driving around 50mph, exceeding the restricted limit of 45mph. Police then spoke to the three passengers in the vehicle who said that Allan had pulled the handbrake causing him to lose control of the car and cause the accident.
Allan denied pulling the handbrake when approaching the junction. A male passenger in the vehicle suffered bruising to the hip and ribs and two chipped teeth while another male suffered bruising to the left side of the neck and waistband. A female passenger was taken to hospital with an injury to her neck and cut to her right leg as a result of the collision.
Defence barrister Steffan Rafferty told the court Allan was 17 at the time of the incident and a relatively inexperienced driver.
In regards to the injuries suffered the defence said they were “quite minor” and that Allan was “quite lucky” the injuries weren’t more serious. He told the court the defendant was working as an apprentice joiner, while attending college. The barrister said the incident had a “sobering effect” and that above all the defendant had lost three friends because of the accident and he now wanted to put the incident behind him.
Speaking directly to the defendant deputy district judge Anne Marshall said: “You have nobody to blame for this incident, but yourself.” The judge said Allan was lucky he didn’t kill himself or one of his passengers and it is was only a “matter of sheer luck” there were no more serious injuries.
She disputed Mr Bogue’s claims that the injuries were ‘minor’ and said it was an extremely serious incident.
She said for someone who had only passed his driving test three months this was “most irresponsible” and “stupid” behaviour. Given the defendant’s young age, his lack of previous convictions and the fact he was working the judge decided to keep his disqualification to 12 months.
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere