TWO Co Down men have been jailed for causing the death of a pensioner after he was struck by a car.
Che McManus (21), of Carriff Court, Downpatrick, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to causing the death of Patrick Wilkinson by dangerous driving in June 2014.
Daryl Kirton (23), formerly of Crossgar, Co Down, but now with an address at Fell Street in Liverpool, was jailed for six months after he pleaded to causing Mr Wilkinson's death by careless driving.
He further admitted causing the death of Mr Wilkinson whilst driving with no insurance. Both men were also disqualified for seven years.
Mr Wilkinson was helping to herd cattle into his son-in-law Patrick Magee's small farm on the Killard Road, Ballyhornan when he was fatally injured by McManus' blue Vauxhall Corsa car.
The court heard the Corsa had been following behind a black Seat Cupra and earlier that day the cars were spotted on CCTV driving through Ballyhornan at speeds of 30mph and 20 metres apart.
An expert witness said in a report that he was unable to calculate what speed the Corsa car was travelling at before the collision but he estimated that as the car spun around and rotated it was travelling at a speed of between 40-51mph.
McManus was later taken to hospital for treatment to a number of cuts to his head where he was later arrested by police but made no reply. At a later interview, McManus said he did not remember anything until he woke up in hospital.
The court heard that McManus was a restricted driver having only passed his test three months earlier in March 2014.
Passing sentence yesterday at Downpatrick Crown Court, Judge Piers Grant told the defendants that photographs of the accident on the Killard Road in Ballyhornan, Co Down showed a "scene of devastaton''.
He added: "You two alone, by your driving on that day, caused the death of Mr Wilkinson.
"It is only right that I acknowledge the great loss suffered by the Wilkinson family. He was clearly a good man, a much loved and respected individual and he has now been taken away by your irresponsible behaviour. You will have to carry that burden for the rest of your lives."
Judge Grant condemned McManus for showing "little remorse'' for his actions.
The judge said that during interviews with police, Kirton tried to "disassociate himself'' from the accident, adding: "It is quite clear Mr Kirton you declined to assist the police with their investigations and you wanted little to do with this incident.''
However, Judge Grant said that he was taking into account the expressions of remorse.
