Judge was in car involved in three vehicle accident

Mr Mervyn Bates was on his way to Friday’s sitting of Craigavon Magistrates Court when the car he was in, driven by a PSNI bodyguard, crashed around 9.30am.

It is understood that Mr Bates had to be cut from the vehicle and was carried away from the scene on a stretcher, suffering from multiple broken bones.

The Ambulance Service said one vehicle was left on its side and three people were taken to Craigavon Area Hospital.

The accident, which happened close to junction 11, the Portadown turn off, caused long delays on the M1 westbound.

A PSNI spokesman said it had notified the Police Ombudsman’s Office.

The start of proceedings at Craigavon Magistrates Court was delayed as another District Judge was drafted in.

Judge Peter King dealt with matters on the videolink and the main court list.