Boy (7) knocked down by car

David Edward Coates (37), Dundrum Road, Dromara, was fined £150 and banned for three months for driving without due care and attention on January 10 this year.

He was also fined £250 and banned for three months for not having insurance. He was ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy.

The court heard that police received a report of an accident at the Maxol Eurospar forecourt on the Rathfriland Road, Dromara.

A seven-year-old boy had been knocked down by a car. He did not receive any injuries and had left the scene before police arrived.

Coates said that as he moved off he was looking to one side and did not see the pedestrians. His foot slipped off the clutch.

It transpired that his insurance policy had been cancelled due to unpaid fees and he did not realise this until it was brought to his attention by the police.

A solicitor representing the defendant said he was looking up a busy road and did not see the pedestrians coming across from the other side.

He added that it was extremely fortunate the car stopped immediately because he could have hit the boy again.

The solicitor said Coates, who was shaken at what happened, made a full admission. A claim had been lodged and the victim will be compensated.

He explained that the defendant had got his insurance online and had sent the first payment.

He thought a direct debit had been set up but it was only after this happened he discovered the direct debit did not go through. He took out insurance four days later.

The solicitor said Coates already had six points on his licence for a fixed penalty offence.

He asked the judge not to impose more points but impose instead a short period of disqualification.