Ballymoney man ordered to stand trial over incident that broke girl's pelvis

The Belfast Telegraph today (Wednesday) reported that John Aughey is also alleged to have carried out assaults on other men and women in the Ardoyne area on July 13 last year.

The 62-year-old was arrested following the incident on the Crumlin Road, close to the scene of disorder over a banned Orange parade.

Aughey, with a current address at Mullan Road in Ballymoney, appeared before Belfast Magistrates’ Court today for a preliminary enquiry hearing.

He is charged with causing grievous bodily injury to the girl by dangerous driving.

She suffered multiple broken bones in the collision, including a shattered pelvis, after being trapped under a vehicle.

Aughey also faces counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm to her, assault occasioning actual bodily harm to two other people, and three common assaults.

Defence counsel Richard McConkey did not challenge prosecution submissions that his client has a prima facie case to answer.

Aughey confirmed he understood the alleged offences, but declined to call witnesses or give evidence at this stage.

District Judge Peter King granted an application to have him returned for trial at Belfast Crown Court on a date to be fixed.