The two drivers who caused the death of young Fermanagh mum Natasha Carruthers following a 12-mile car chase which reached speeds of up to 100mph were warned on Monday to "expect anything other than significant custodial sentences".

At a pre-sentence hearing before Dungannon Crown Court, sitting in Downpatrick, lawyers for the pair, Cavan man Padraig Toher who admitted 23-year-old Natasha's manslaughter, and her boyfriend, Nathan Phair convicted of causing her death by dangerous driving, talked of their "genuine remorse".

Adjourning sentencing, until next month, Judge Neil Rafferty QC told them that a " young woman died in tragic circumstances", and he wanted to take time "to assimilate and consider the proper approach to each of you. This case involves similar, but different approaches".

Natasha died instantly when thrown from her Corsa car after it struck a tree at over 60mph on the outskirts of the Fermanagh village of Derrylin on October 7, 2017, as her boyfriend 23-year-old Phair tried to escape the BMW of 29-year-old Toher.

Defence QC Arthur Harvey for Toher, said the Cavan man, from Bawnnoy, Ballyconnell, fully acknowledged the devastating consequences of his role on the night.  However, while he accepted that he was wrong to have driven on after the horrific accident, he'd acted through, "sheer panic".

Mr. Harvey also revealed Toher spent the next two nights sleeping rough in his car, before eventually seeking psychiatric assistance at Cavan Hospital.

Following this, he handed himself into police and arranged for them to collect his car which he also accepted he'd been trying to get repaired.

From the outset, said counsel, Toher recognised that his "due day of punishment would come. He pleaded guilty at an early stage. His attitude is not based on self-pity. It is based on recognition and acceptance not to make the family go through a trial, hearing all the distressing details of every aspect.”

Mr. Harvey said Toher drifted into drug use after losing his job and it had "brought nothing but distress and the heart-breaking consequences far beyond any intention". 

And he went on to add: "Such a lifestyle is total parody of what the standards of life are about – honour and respect. My client accepts this led to a blurring of his moral lines of what was right. He did drive on from the scene. He was aware of the crash but not the severity. It quickly became apparent what had occurred – this young woman died.”

Since going into prison, said Mr. Harvey, Toher had never applied for bail, had become an "exemplary prisoner and has passed every drug test. His family have attended court and genuinely want to ensure his support. This is not self-pity or self-serving. This is genuine remorse for the disastrous consequences he caused.”

Brian Macartney QC for Phair, while also acknowledging he "expressed genuine and spontaneous remorse" at his trial, however, said the jury's guilty "verdict is respected, it is not accepted".

Mr. Macartney said the case was "always about who caused the death of Natasha Carruthers. It has always been accepted my client never set out to harm, injure or kill anyone”.

 Referring to the crash itself, counsel said, “My client suffered life-changing injuries and never once complained. He sustained multiple fractures including to his skull and spine and was in hospital for 20 days.”

However, Judge Rafferty countered by saying: “And on release went out and stole a car which he drove dangerously. You can’t really claim life changing injuries if they don’t change life.”

While Mr. Macartney contended Phair's spinal fracture will have repercussions, the judge again interjected: “It is quite clear life-changing injuries refer to confinement to a wheelchair or 24 nursing care.”

Then again while maintaining that Phair: “At all times drove defensively, not aggressively after a terrifying attack on the car with an iron bar. He was rammed 10-20 times. Those given chase were on a mission and the consequences were irrelevant”, Judge Rafferty reminded counsel, “The jury found him guilty.”

In conclusion Mr. Macartney accepted Phair has 25 previous convictions, highlighting none for drug-dealing, and contended: “The record speaks of someone who has never been offered probation. The dogs on the street knew he had an addiction … I urge the court to bear all that in mind.”