Motorist banned from driving after knocking down 84-year-old on Ballymena pedestrian crossing near Sainsbury's petrol station
A judge has said footage of a driver knocking down an 84-year-old pedestrian at a crossing in Ballymena was "quite horrific".
The man suffered five broken ribs and a fractured ankle, the town's magistrates' court was told on Thursday.
The pensioner was unable to return home after being discharged from hospital and had to go to a nursing home to assist with his recovery, a prosecutor said.
The motorist - Susan Law, aged 66, of Murob Park in Ballymena - pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily injury by driving without due care and attention at a crossing near the Sainsbury's petrol station at 9.30am on May 15 this year.
The pedestrian told police the motorist had approached from the direction of the Smyths Toys store.
The prosecutor told the court the man was using a pedestrian crossing.
The prosecutor said the defendant said it was "hard to see" the crossing and she "didn't see" the pensioner on the crossing.
The court heard that although the defendant, a nurse, had a clear record since driving from the age of 18 she had three endorsements on her driving licence for speeding in 2016, 2020 and 2022.
A defence barrister told an earlier court that the defendant fully accepted responsibility and wished to express a "profound apology" to the injured man and his family.
The lawyer said anything he was telling the court about the case "is not in any way to distract from the terrible situation that happened to this elderly gentleman".
The barrister said it is a "difficult" crossing with "obstructions" to the views that drivers have of people walking onto the crossing.
He said there was no suggestion of any excessive speed and "nothing reckless".
At the earlier court, District Judge Nigel Broderick viewed CCTV footage of the incident which prompted him to say "oh my goodness".
He said the footage "is actually quite horrific when you see it".
The judge had adjourned the case to Thursday saying he wanted photographs taken to illustrate the view the defendant would have had whilst approaching the crossing.
A prosecutor told Thursday's court she had asked police for an update on the victim but had still to receive a reply.
Judge Broderick said the pensioner had been "properly established" on the crossing and footage of him being knocked to the ground by the defendant's vehicle was "quite shocking".
After viewing the photographs, the judge said it had been said by the defence a petrol station sign may have blocked the view the defendant had.
The judge said the signage "did not play any significant part" in the defendant not seeing the pensioner and that she "should have seen him".
He said the case was at the "higher end" of careless driving.
Judge Broderick said a fine in this case was not appropriate "because of the circumstances of the accident and the injuries sustained by the victim".
The defendant was ordered to do 100 hours of Community Service and was banned from driving for a year.