AN SDLP assembly member has been acquitted of careless driving.
Lagan Valley MLA Pat Catney contested a single count of driving without due care and attention at Batchelor's Walk in Lisburn on June 21 last year.
Lisburn Magistrates Court heard how a female pedestrian hurt her shoulder as she crossed the road in heavy traffic.
The court heard she crossed behind Mr Catney's estate car which had a bicycle attached to it but under cross examination from defence barrister Malachy Bernard, she conceded she “did not know” how her shoulder came to be hurt.
Lodging an application for a directed verdict of not guilty, Mr Bernard argued that her evidence, coupled with Mr Catney’s police interview where he maintained his car remained static throughout and had not moved, meant there was no way he could be convicted.
Acceding to the defence application, District Judge Rosie Watters found Mr Catney not guilty.
