Northern Ireland

Dog handler medically discharged from PSNI after collision `triggered PTSD'

Antrim Magistrates Court heard the vehicle driven by Bradley went through a red light, collided with a Skoda Fabia and, having ended up on its side, the police van slid into a Hyundai Tuscan. Picture by Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press
Antrim Magistrates Court heard the vehicle driven by Bradley went through a red light, collided with a Skoda Fabia and, having ended up on its side, the police van slid into a Hyundai Tuscan. Picture by Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press Antrim Magistrates Court heard the vehicle driven by Bradley went through a red light, collided with a Skoda Fabia and, having ended up on its side, the police van slid into a Hyundai Tuscan. Picture by Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press

A POLICE dog van ended up on its side with three dogs trapped inside after their handler ran a red light and caused a three-car crash, a court has heard.

Dog handler Paul Bradley has since been medically discharged from the PSNI after the collision "triggered PTSD".

The 50-year-old former constable, whose address was given as Lisburn PSNI station, had entered a guilty plea to a single charge of driving carelessly.

The collision at the junction of Steeple Road and Bush Road in Antrim on July 16 was recorded by cameras on a lorry which was at the junction at the time.

Antrim Magistrates Court heard the vehicle driven by Bradley went through a red light, collided with a Skoda Fabia and, having ended up on its side, the police van slid into a Hyundai Tuscan.

The Skoda driver suffered a broken finger and "substantial damage" to her car and the police dogs had to wait to be freed until the van - which also sustained significant damage - was righted.

The prosecutor told the court Bradley was not responding to an emergency call and had neither blue lights flashing nor sirens blaring when the accident happened but was simply "transporting dogs" when he failed to stop for the red light.

The officer's statement was that he had "no memory of the incident other than being covered in glass" but would never intentionally drive through a red light and it had "triggered PTSD".

Defence solicitor Kellie Morwood said it "has brought a premature end to his career", adding he is "remorseful for his actions and apologises for the inconvenience and distress".

District Judge Nigel Broderick imposed nine penalty points and a £400 fine.