Disability activist fined after two vehicle collision

Sixty-seven-year-old Mary Ursula Marshall from Greenacres, Cookstown, was also given seven penalty points on a charge of driving without due care and attention.

Imposing the penalties, District Judge Michael Ranaghan said the aggravating feature to the accident was that people had been injured including two children.

Mr Ranaghan referred to what he described as “shining” character references handed in to court in support of the defendant.

He said in the circumstances he was not minded to disqualify but would impose enough points that would not leave her vulnerable at a later date to being disqualified for something like a speeding matter.

The court heard there had been extensive frontal damage to both vehicles in the collision at Ballynakilly Road, Coalisland, on March 2 last year.

Prosecution counsel explained that police were called to a report of the incident and found the injured party’s vehicle up on the kerb.

He told the court that the injured party said his two children, aged six and five, were in the rear of the vehicle. The defendant’s vehicle was in the middle of the road.

Counsel said the injured party claimed he was driving along when the defendant’s vehicle came across to his side of the road and he had no chance to do anything.

The prosecutor said the injuries sustained were mainly bruising and abrasions.

A defence lawyer said the defendant suffered from a disability and has been actively involved in campaigning for people with disabilities.

He said the incident could not be fully explained but it appeared the defendant experienced some kind of lapse which resulted in her vehicle crossing the white line.

He said the defendant had immediately admitted responsibility and her insurance would fully compensate the injured party.

The lawyer described it as a one-off incident and asked the court to give her credit for her plea.