A DRIVER who crashed his car, causing serious injury to his three passengers, and then tried to get them to lie to police about what speed he had been doing, has received a suspended sentence and ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to each of his victims.

Gabriel Farry (30), of Moneygar Road, Trillick, pleaded guilty to three counts of causing grievous bodily injury by driving without due care and attention at the A5 Beltany Road, near Omagh, on January 27, 2013.

He also pleaded guilty to three further counts of perverting the course of justice, by attempting to persuade his passengers, Ryan Woods, Barry Woods and Teejay Richards, to provide a false account to police about the road traffic collision.

At his sentencing at Omagh Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday), His Honour, Judge Paul Ramsey QC, said that several drivers in the area of the Mellon Country Hotel recalled being overtaken by the defendant’s silver Honda, which was estimated to be travelling at around 80mph or higher, before later coming across the vehicle on its roof further on down the road.

One witness stated that she observed a car coming in the opposite direction taking “evasive action” as a result of the defendant’s driving.

Reading from victim impact statements, the judge said that 26-year-old Barry Woods, the front seat passenger, had sustained four fractures to his neck and upper back, 19-year-old rear passenger Ryan Woods sustained scarring to his head and nasal fractures, and 19-year-old Teejay Richards, another rear passenger, sustained hand, nasal and knee injuries and scarring.

Mr Ramsey, reading from a pre-sentence report prepared on the defendant, said Farry, who is a carer for his mother, had a clear record and his “regret and remorse” extended to his “ill-judged efforts to influence his victims in the aftermath”.

The judge said that the “central mystery” in the case was what provoked the defendant’s driving, asking why did he feel the need to drive at a high speed. He said that it was “at odds” with his previous character.

“It simply seems to be an aberration on his part,” Mr Ramsey observed.

The judge said the case had one aggravating factor, which was the defendant’s “panicky and clumsy” attempt to influence his passengers. However, he added that his efforts had not been geared towards destroying evidence and “no thought had been put into it”.

Mr Ramsey also noted that the loss of the defendant’s licence would have a “catastrophic effect” and lead to the loss of his employment as a technician.

In mitigation, the judge said there had been a delay in the case and it was some three-and-a-half years since the incident. That factor would have to be taken into account in the sentencing.

In the circumstances, Mr Ramsey said the appropriate way to deal with the case would be by suspending the sentence. The judge imposed concurrent six month jail terms in respect of all six charges, which he then suspended for two years. He also disqualified the defendant from driving for two years and ordered him to pay £1,000 compensation to each of his victims.