Young motorist ‘accepted he could have killed someone’

Twenty-two-year-old Ciaran Eamon James McGuckin from Moy Road, Dungannon, was also fined a total of £550 with a £15 offender’s levy for driving while having consumed excess alcohol, dangerous driving, and failing to stop for police.

Dungannon Magistrates Court was told on Wednesday the offences arose out of an incident on the Ballynakilly, Creenagh and Moor Roads, Coalisland, in the early hours of the morning of March 14.

Prosecution counsel said at approximately 12.45am police at Coalisland Road, Dungannon, saw a silver coloured VW Golf coming the direction of Coalisland and turning into Creenagh Road at speed.

He said police signalled for the vehicle to stop, however, it sped on and made no attempt to stop. It continued into the Ballynakilly Road and into Moor Road without slowing down or indicating.

Counsel said it went across the T-junction of Moor Road with Ballynakilly Road into a tree where it came to a stop.

The driver was the only person in the vehicle and he was unsteady on his feet and smelled of intoxicating liquor, the lawyer continued.

He was arrested and taken to the custody suite where he provided a specimen showing an alcohol reading of 59mgs in breath - the legal limit is 35.

During interview he said he knew police were behind him and he panicked as he had a couple of pints.

He said that he had just purchased the car two weeks prior to the incident and was going home. He did not think he was driving dangerously until “the blue lights came on”.

Counsel said police told him he could have killed someone, McGucken said “without doubt I regret my actions”.

The lawyer added that the defendant has no record.

Defence lawyer Blaine Nugent said the defendant has apologised profusely for his actions and accepted that he could have killed someone.

He said he had three pints of Guinness at a celebration in his brother’s house, and “it wasn’t the highest of readings”.

Mr Nugent pointed out that McGuckin has been driving for about five years with a clear record.

“He is a delivery driver and it looks like that employment will be lost to him as result of this,” he said.