A DRIVER who allowed his girlfriend to carry their child unrestrained on her lap when she was a front-seat passenger has been warned by a judge of the “horrific” consequences if there had been an accident.

Darren Hall (32), of Lakeview, Lisnaskea, was charged with taking a motor vehicle without authority, not having a driving licence, using a motor vehicle without insurance at Trasna Way and carrying a child under 12-years-old without a proper restraint on May 19 this year.

Appearing before Fermanagh Magistrates Court on Monday, Hall entered guilty pleas to all the charges.

The court heard that, at 4.10pm, police were carrying out door-to-door enquiries at Trasna Way, Lisnaskea when they observed a Ford Mondeo driving towards them.

A child was on the knees of the front-seat passenger and there was no seat belt around the youngster, the court heard.

When the car was stopped and an officer asked Hall to produce his motoring documents, he replied: “I don’t have any. I have nothing.”

He also told the police that the vehicle belonged to his girlfriend’s mother.

Upon contacting the owner, she confirmed that the defendant did not have permission to drive.

Hall was conveyed into custody, where he made full admissions to the offences.

After confirming to the court that it had been his child sitting on his girlfriend’s lap in the front of the car, deputy district judge Neil Rafferty told the defendant: “You’re aware that using a small child as an airbag is not a good thing for the child.”

Defending solicitor, Brian Charity, told the court that his client was aware that it had been a “foolish” thing to do.

The solicitor said that the girlfriend’s mother had allowed her to use the car and Hall had “taken advantage of that”.

In mitigation, Mr Charity said that the distance involved was 100 metres and it had been a “silly action” on the part of the defendant.

The solicitor admitted that his client had never held a driving licence, but was now in the process of applying for one.

Urging the judge to display leniency, Mr Charity said the defendant had no previous record for motoring offences and had entered guilty pleas at the first hearing.

Addressing Hall directly, the judge said that the regulations he had breached were “not silly” and were the rules of the road designed to keep people safe.

Mr Rafferty observed that he had dealt with too many cases when unrestrained children had either been killed or seriously injured.

He said that the forces involved when an adult went through a child in a road accident was the equivalent of a ton weight.

“Even at a low speed, it’s horrific,” the judge said.

Mr Rafferty imposed fines totalling £475, a £15 offender levy and a three-month driving disqualification.

“I regard what you did as quite serious. Don’t do it again,” the judge added.