A man who lied to police about selling a vehicle after fleeing the scene of a collision has been handed a suspended sentence but been spared his licence.
The 36-year-old’s barrister told court: “He is an otherwise industrious individual …..as a result of this he will have lost his good name and the loss of his licence would lead to a loss of employment.”
Brendan McCormack, of Elmfield Avenue in Warrenpoint, pleaded guilty to driving without due care or attention, obstructing police, failing to stop, failing to remain and failing to report an accident at Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry, on Tuesday.
Prosecution outlined that on November 11, at 3.30pm, police received a report of a hit and run collision on the Moy Road, Armagh.
Officers spoke to the injured party who stated that a Toyota Rav-4 had collided with their vehicle before making off across the forecourt of O’Kane’s filling station.
Police attended the home of the last registered keeper of this vehicle, where a female told them that it belonged to her former husband, the defendant.
Officers then made enquiries with McCormack, who claimed that he had sold the vehicle in question.
However, the defendant subsequently made admissions during an interview at Armagh police station on November 22.
He told police that he had been following behind the vehicle which suddenly stopped and he did not have enough time to brake.
Defence barrister Bobbie Rea stated: “He made confessions during interview. This is a 36-year-old man with no previous convictions and no penalty points.
“He is an otherwise industrious individual …..as a result of this he will have lost his good name and the loss of his licence would lead to a loss of employment.”
Mr Rea added that in this case there was no suggestion that McCormack had been under the influence at the time or that he was uninsured.
Addressing the defendant, Deputy District Judge Philip Mateer stated: “I take into account what your counsel has said and your clear record.
“On the day in question, you did not only leave the scene of a collision but you also gave false information, namely that you had sold the vehicle, to police officers.”
He added: “It is a mean and nasty thing to do, crash into someone and leaving the scene without exchanging details.”
McCormack was sentenced to three months in prison suspended for 12 months and was handed 10 penalty points.
In addition, the defendant was also ordered to pay a fine of £625, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 26 weeks.
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