Lisburn pensioner banned from driving after colliding with a woman in Sainsbury's car park
A pensioner who hit a woman with his car in the car park at Sainsbury’s at Sprucefield has been banned from driving for a year.
William John Morton, 78, whose address was given as Sloan Street in Lisburn, was charged with causing grievous bodily injury.
Lisburn Magistrates Court heard that on September 2, 2025, police received a report that a female had been hit by a car at Sprucefield Park car park in Lisburn.
On arrival, police observed the injured party on the road, surrounded by members of the public.
She told police she had been knocked down by a red vehicle.
The injured party was taken to hospital, where she had surgery on a fractured ankle, which required screws and plates. It was said that she was in hospital for four weeks and was then bed bound for some time on her release.
The defendant, who was standing close by, alleged the injured party was walking on the road rather than the footpath and was pushing a large trolley.
He said he was driving at a slow speed when he collided with her.
During police interview the defendant admitted ‘tapping’ the injured party but said he didn’t think he could have done anything differently to avoid it.
A defence lawyer told the court the defendant was a 78-year-old man with a catalogue of health issues, including cancer.
He continued: “He got out of the car to check this lady was ok.
"He was driving slowly through Sainsbury’s car park. There was a lot of traffic and people about and maintenance work being carried out.
"She wasn’t on the footpath, she was in the middle of the road.
"It seems to have been a momentary lapse in concentration and it has had very serious consequences.
"This is going to have a significant impact on him. It is going to leave his wife and him very isolated.”
District Judge Rosie Watters said: “I suspect he shouldn’t be on the road anyway.”
Ms Watters disqualified the defendant from driving for 12 months and stated that he would have to resit his driving test at the end of the period of disqualification. She also imposed a fine of £300.