Opinion

Dangerous driving case has left a family devastated

The number of deaths of our roads is absolutely appalling but behind every statistic is a person who was living a full life and whose loss has caused immeasurable suffering to family and friends.

There are a variety of reasons behind each fatality but what makes it difficult to bear is when a death could have been prevented if a driver had taken greater care.

One such case where dangerous driving resulted in the ending of a young life was heard at Newry Crown Court yesterday.

Lesley-Ann McCarragher was aged 19 when she was killed.

This much loved and popular young woman was a student at Loughrey College and a former head girl at the City of Armagh High School.

On April 9, 2016 she left her home and went for a jog along the Monaghan Road, Armagh.

It was a normal, everyday activity but as she headed out, her family was not to know that their lives were to be changed forever.

As she ran along the hard shoulder, she was struck by a Saab car driven by teenager Nathan Finn, who had no licence or insurance.

He had mounted the hard shoulder to undertake a VW Golf driven by Damien Paul McCann, and it is clear high speed was involved.

There were a number of aggravating features to this case. Finn left the scene without stopping and when later questioned, claimed he had sold the car before the incident when he had actually hidden it in a garage.

Meanwhile, McCann absconded after learning he was to be prosecuted, delaying proceedings.

The lack of remorse shown by the pair was noted by the McCarragher family, who said the sentence handed down to Finn - nine years in total, half in prison - should be a lesson to other drivers.

This heartbroken family, who have suffered a devastating loss, appealed to drivers to ensure no one else has their life cut short like their daughter.

Every road user has a responsibility to drive safely. As this case shows, the consequences of unsafe driving can be truly terrible.