A Co Down has admitted causing the death of a cyclist by careless driving.
At Newtownards Magistrates Court, a defence solicitor said he was formally entering a guilty plea on behalf of 54-year-old Ian William John Lappin that he caused the death of Stephen Lynch by driving carelessly on the Bangor Road, Newtownards, on October 6 last year.
The 50-year-old, father-of-five who was from the Downpatrick area, died as a result of the injuries he sustained when his bicycle was in collision with Lappin’s Renault car, close to the Somme Heritage Centre shortly before 5.50am.
Following the guilty plea, Mr Logue said that in addition to the pre-sentence probation report, he would be submitting a “special reasons” argument as to why Lappin, from the Circular Road, also in Ards, should not be banned from driving.
Freeing Lappin, who sat at the back of the court in the public gallery, District Judge Paul Conway adjourned passing sentence until January 19.
He revealed that while he has a “very lose connection to North Down Cycling Club,” that would not pose a problem with him hearing the case.
The judge added that given the serious nature of the charge, he would grant legal aid and extend the certificate to allow counsel to be instructed.
