A 48-YEAR-OLD woman blamed a “momentary lapse in concentration” for causing a road traffic collision in which another motorist was seriously injured, Fermanagh Magistrates Court has heard.

Elaine McFarland, of Sligo Road, Rosscarrig, Enniskillen, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily injury to John Montague by driving without due care and attention on May 21, 2016.

The court heard that, at 9.40am, police were tasked to a two-vehicle road traffic collision at the junction of the Sligo Road and Old Sligo Road.

The driver of a blue Peugeot 206, which had sustained significant damage to its rear, was trapped in the vehicle and being attended to by paramedics.

The defendant, who was also receiving treatment, had been driving a grey Nissan Qashqui, which sustained frontal damage in the crash.

Both the defendant and the other driver were subsequently taken to the South West Acute Hospital.

Police also spoke to two independent witnesses who were at the scene.

In June last year, police recorded a statement from Mr Montague, who had been driving the Peugeot 206. He told them he had been travelling along the Sligo Road and then indicated to turn right, as he was heading to Lappin’s to buy vegetables.

Mr Montague said his next memory was waking up in hospital. He had sustained a number of injuries in the collision, including rib fractures.

Meanwhile, McFarland produced a prepared statement when she was interviewed by the police in August. She admitted full responsibility for the accident, adding that she had been looking for a left hand turn on the road as she intended walking up the mountain.

The defendant said that a “momentary lapse in concentration” had caused her to collide with a car in front.
She added that she was sorry for what happened and for the injuries caused.

Defending counsel, Ciaran Roddy, told the court that his client had been “very contrite” about the collision and appreciated that it could have had “tragic consequences”.

In mitigation, the barrister said that McFarland had been travelling at around 45mph along a road governed by the national speed limit.

Mr Roddy added that there had been no filter lane at the point where the injured party wanted to turn right, meaning that his car had to take up a stationary position in the laneway.

The barrister revealed that his client had sustained a fractured toe, whiplash and mental trauma as a result of the crash, and had decided that she no longer wished to drive.

Before the incident, Mr Roddy said that the defendant had been driving for 23 years and had a clear record.

He also said that she had worked in health and safety prior to the collision, but had been unable to continue with her employment.

The barrister told the court that, with his client having a background in health and safety, the incident was “all the more unfortunate”.

District judge, Nigel Broderick, observed that he didn’t think the defendant would have been in court were it not for her “momentary lapse in concentration”.

The judge accepted that McFarland may well have been distracted as she looked for a turn-off on the road.

Taking into account her “genuine remorse”, Mr Broderick said that, no doubt, the injured party would be compensated in due course by the relevant insurance company.

He imposed a £250 fine on the defendant and ordered her to pay a £15 offender levy.

Observing that the case also merited a short disqualification, the judge banned McFarland from driving for three months.

She was given 20 weeks in which to pay her fine.