Co Armagh dad drove off while his son's mother was releasing the child from car seat belt outside Craigavon courthouse
A Co Armagh father drove off as his son’s mother was releasing the child’s seat belt, Craigavon court has heard.
James Hassett, aged 47, from Rosmoyle, Craigavon appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court accused of assault and careless driving on November 29, 2024.
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The court heard that police were called by both the defendant and a woman regarding a domestic incident in the court car park.
The defendant told police a court order was made regarding custody of their son. It was agreed that mother would collect the son from him at the courthouse that evening.
"He then told police that the son didn't want to go with his mother and when the injured party arrived, he had lowered his car window slightly for the son to speak with his mother,” said a prosecutor.
The injured party told police the defendant prevented her from taking her son.
“When she was leaning into his car in order to take off the son's seat belt, the defendant had driven off at speed,” said the prosecutor, adding that the injured party’s version was that she was ‘carried by the car for several metres before falling to the ground’.
During interview, the defendant accepted driving his car whilst ‘the injured party was leaning into the open door’.
The prosecutor said: “He claimed he believed this to be justified as he felt his son would be harmed if he did not. He claimed that he took off slowly only doing 2 to 3mph. When he set off, she turned away from his vehicle, and then tried to jump into the vehicle as he was moving.”
Hassett’s solicitor, Mr Peter Murphy, pointed out the charge started as dangerous driving but was reduced to careless driving. He said camera footage showed his client drove only a short distance.
"At this stage the child had been very upset and didn't want to go with the mother. The mother had already been late to collect the child. My client sat and waited until she arrived. It was made clear to her it didn’t want to go,” he said.
"She then got the car door open and reached in. She was trying to take the seat belt off and basically remove the child from the car. Because the child was getting upset, he thought ‘no, I'm going to move off here’. He moved off slowly. She held on.
"He certainly didn't set out to cause any injury to anyone. He was concerned about the welfare of his child and the fact that the child didn't want to go with the mother,” said Mr Murphy, adding he hadn’t seen his child in ‘quite some time’ because of this incident.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said: “That’s a punishment in itself.”
"It was a very unfortunate incident as it involved a young child,” said the judge, adding he had seen the footage and it was ‘a short distance’.
Hassett was given an 18 month Probation Order plus 60 hours Community Service for the assault.
He said he was aware of the a conversation between the parties. “I do think Mr Hassett was acting to a degree out of concern for his child. So, I'll reduce the driving disqualification,” said the judge banning him for six weeks and ordering a 12-month Restraining Order.