Northern Ireland

Man spared prison after injured victims appeal to judge

<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;  line-height: 20.8px;">Christopher Barnet (64), of Rectory Avenue, Craigavon, had pleaded guilty to two charges of causing grievous bodily injury by careless driving to husband and wife John and Eileen Austin.</span>
Christopher Barnet (64), of Rectory Avenue, Craigavon, had pleaded guilty to two charges of causing grievous bodily injury by ca Christopher Barnet (64), of Rectory Avenue, Craigavon, had pleaded guilty to two charges of causing grievous bodily injury by careless driving to husband and wife John and Eileen Austin.

A COArmagh man has been spared prison after a couple he injured in a head-on collision asked a judge not to send him to jail.

Christopher Barnet (64), of Rectory Avenue, Craigavon, had pleaded guilty to two charges of causing grievous bodily injury by careless driving to husband and wife John and Eileen Austin.

During sentencing at Craigavon Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, Judge Patrick Kinney said he would suspend a nine month prison sentence on both counts.

He told father-of-three Barnet: "It is to the immense credit of both of the Austins who have expressed the wish that you should not be sent to prison.''

Barnet was driving his Mitsubishi Shogun and trailer along the Derrytrasna Road in Lurgan around 4.45 pm on New Year's Eve 2013 when the accident happened.

The court heard it was dusk and dry although the road on the two-way carriageway was wet.

As Barnet approached a left hand bend on the 60 mph road, he veered across onto oncoming traffic, hitting the Austins' Volkswagen Polo car.

"The defendant was on the wrong side of the road and there was no way for the injured party to avoid the collision,'' said Judge Kinney.

Collision experts who examined the scene and vehicle said there was no excess speed involved and there was also no defects to Barnet's Mitsubishi Shogun. There was no alcohol involved.

The collision was caused by either a "slight right steer prior to impact or a left steer from the left hand bend 50 metres prior to impact''.

Barnet had a previous clear record and had never been before the courts for any motoring offences in 46 years driving.

"By his guilty pleas he has taken full responsibility these offences. He knew his victims from the local area, he has apologised to the victims and has shown genuine remorse and regret for his actions," the judge said.

"This accident was the defendant's fault and he was guilty of careless driving.''

Judge Kinney said that it was evident from victim impact statements "the effects this accident and injuries has had on the Austins and on their families''.

Taking into account the guilty plea, he was sentenced to nine months in custody and disqualified from driving for 12 months.

"I consider there are highly exceptional circumstances in this case and I suspend the nine month sentence for a period of two years," the judge said.