DRIVING charges against a DUP MLA accused of careless driving were withdrawn today after she accepted a police caution.
Defence counsel Richard McConkey told Newtownards Magistrates Court that the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) “were withdrawing the charges” against Joanne Bunting and when their lawyer confirmed that was the position, District Judge Mark Hamill formally marked the case as withdrawn.
Mrs Bunting (46), an MLA for East Belfast and Policing Board member had faced four charges - careless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and that following an accident which caused an injury to another person, she failed to stop, remain and report her details to the police within a reasonable time, all alleged to have been committed following an incident on the Movilla Road in the town on March 3 last year.
When she was initially charged last August, defence solicitor Keith Gamble told the court that all the offences were denied and the case has been repeatedly scheduled to arrange a trial date.
Last January the court heard there were discussions between prosecution and defence which would hopefully “narrow the issues.”
A PPS spokesperson said: “The PPS issued a decision for the administration of a caution to an individual reported for careless driving and failing to report an accident.
"This decision was taken as an alternative to prosecution and was reached after a careful consideration of the full circumstances of this case and submissions by legal representatives acting on behalf of the individual prosecuted.
"Once the caution was administered the proceedings were then withdrawn at court, as is normal procedure. A caution is recorded on a person’s criminal record for five years.
“All decisions in this case were taken impartially and fully in line with the PPS Code for Prosecutors, including the guidance on alternatives to prosecution.”
