News

Sports car smashes into restaurant window

The scene of an accident on the Upper Newtownards Road in east Belfast where a Jaguar car crashed into the Graze restuarant. Picture Mal McCann.
The scene of an accident on the Upper Newtownards Road in east Belfast where a Jaguar car crashed into the Graze restuarant. Picture Mal McCann. The scene of an accident on the Upper Newtownards Road in east Belfast where a Jaguar car crashed into the Graze restuarant. Picture Mal McCann.

A former newspaper editor made headlines yesterday when his high-end Jaguar car crashed into the front window of an east Belfast restaurant.

No-one was injured in the crash which took place on the Newtownards Road just after 10am.

The car, driven by former News Letter editor Sam Butler, ended up in the front window of popular eatery Graze after a collision with another vehicle.

Graze owner Neil Johnston last night said he was arriving for work yesterday morning when the sporty F Type convertible crashed.

"It’s not something you expect to find on a Tuesday, when you walk through the back door to find a car through your front door," he said.

Mr Johnstone said it was fortunate no-one was injured in the accident which he believes wasn't Mr Butler's fault.

"We are very blessed, if it had been two hours later it would have been right in the middle of lunch service," he said.

Mr Johnstone said "considerable" damage was caused to the premises and he was forced to close yesterday while the building was being assessed.

Mr Butler could not be reached for comment last night.

A spokesman for the PSNI said there were no reports of any injuries.