Menu
29/05/2008
'R' Driver Guilty On Fatal Accident
A jury took just 20 minutes to return unanimous verdicts yesterday in finding a young driver guilty of fatal dangerous driving charges.
The families of two victims wept as a speeding 20-year-old 'R' driver was convicted of killing them by dangerous driving.
Mark Andrew Ellis, 20, was found guilty at Antrim Crown Court of killing Margaret Chivers, 85, and his friend, Adam Montague.
As the verdicts were announced, the families of Ellis's victims broke down in tears.
During the two-week trial, the jury heard that Ellis, from Josephine Avenue in Limavady, was uninsured.
He had been driving along the Cam Road close to Macosquin on 6 August 2006 when he lost control of the car on a "gradual" left-hand bend.
The black Peugot 206 he was driving careered into a lamp-post, breaking it in two, before ploughing head-on into a Ford Ka driven by Mrs Chivers's daughter, Ethna.
Mrs Chivers died the same day, but Mr Montague, who had been in the front passenger seat, died 10 days later.
The jury heard that, despite Ellis being a restricted driver at the time of the crash and therefore limited to a maximum speed of 45mph, he told police he had been driving at around 60mph going into the left-hand bend where he lost control.
He claimed that "something was not right" with the road and that "it may have been greasy".
However, a Crown lawyer said: "We say what wasn't right was that he was driving too hard and too fast for the driving conditions."
(BMcC/NS)
The families of two victims wept as a speeding 20-year-old 'R' driver was convicted of killing them by dangerous driving.
Mark Andrew Ellis, 20, was found guilty at Antrim Crown Court of killing Margaret Chivers, 85, and his friend, Adam Montague.
As the verdicts were announced, the families of Ellis's victims broke down in tears.
During the two-week trial, the jury heard that Ellis, from Josephine Avenue in Limavady, was uninsured.
He had been driving along the Cam Road close to Macosquin on 6 August 2006 when he lost control of the car on a "gradual" left-hand bend.
The black Peugot 206 he was driving careered into a lamp-post, breaking it in two, before ploughing head-on into a Ford Ka driven by Mrs Chivers's daughter, Ethna.
Mrs Chivers died the same day, but Mr Montague, who had been in the front passenger seat, died 10 days later.
The jury heard that, despite Ellis being a restricted driver at the time of the crash and therefore limited to a maximum speed of 45mph, he told police he had been driving at around 60mph going into the left-hand bend where he lost control.
He claimed that "something was not right" with the road and that "it may have been greasy".
However, a Crown lawyer said: "We say what wasn't right was that he was driving too hard and too fast for the driving conditions."
(BMcC/NS)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
22 February 2024
Man Pleads Guilty To Number Of Sexual Offences Against Children
A 31-year-old man who travelled to Belfast to meet what he thought was a 13-year-old girl, has pleaded guilty to a number of sexual abuse offences against children. Anil Patel pled guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child, arranging the commission of a child sex offence and possessing extreme pornography of children.
Man Pleads Guilty To Number Of Sexual Offences Against Children
A 31-year-old man who travelled to Belfast to meet what he thought was a 13-year-old girl, has pleaded guilty to a number of sexual abuse offences against children. Anil Patel pled guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child, arranging the commission of a child sex offence and possessing extreme pornography of children.
29 May 2012
Shake-up For Learner Drivers In The Pipeline
The Environment Minister has tabled plans that amount to a radical shake-up of the rules for learner drivers. Teenagers could be able to get behind the wheel at the age of 16-and-a-half, and the 45mph speed limit for new drivers could be scrapped.
Shake-up For Learner Drivers In The Pipeline
The Environment Minister has tabled plans that amount to a radical shake-up of the rules for learner drivers. Teenagers could be able to get behind the wheel at the age of 16-and-a-half, and the 45mph speed limit for new drivers could be scrapped.
11 March 2024
Appeal Following Robbery And Attempted Hijacking In Belfast
PSNI detectives have issued an appeal for information and witnesses following a robbery and attempted hijacking in Belfast City Centre on Saturday, 09 March. It was reported to police, that at around 9.
Appeal Following Robbery And Attempted Hijacking In Belfast
PSNI detectives have issued an appeal for information and witnesses following a robbery and attempted hijacking in Belfast City Centre on Saturday, 09 March. It was reported to police, that at around 9.
07 February 2022
Two Men Jailed For Manslaughter Of Randall Ellis
The PSNI have welcomed the sentences handed down to David Ellis and Dean Martin at Belfast Crown Court for the manslaughter of Randall Ellis, aged 49, at a property in Portadown in December 2019. David Ellis, aged 21, was sentenced to eight years – four years will be served in custody and four years on licence.
Two Men Jailed For Manslaughter Of Randall Ellis
The PSNI have welcomed the sentences handed down to David Ellis and Dean Martin at Belfast Crown Court for the manslaughter of Randall Ellis, aged 49, at a property in Portadown in December 2019. David Ellis, aged 21, was sentenced to eight years – four years will be served in custody and four years on licence.
07 August 2006
19-year-old charged over Derry road death
A 19-year-old man charged with causing the death of a pensioner in County Londonderry by dangerous driving, has been released on bail. Margaret Chivers, 85, from Drumsurn Road in Limavady, died after a the car in which she was travelling was in collision with another vehicle on the Cam Road near Macosquin at around 2pm yesterday.
19-year-old charged over Derry road death
A 19-year-old man charged with causing the death of a pensioner in County Londonderry by dangerous driving, has been released on bail. Margaret Chivers, 85, from Drumsurn Road in Limavady, died after a the car in which she was travelling was in collision with another vehicle on the Cam Road near Macosquin at around 2pm yesterday.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:This evening will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain, these clearing away towards midnight. Then the rest of the night will be dry with clear periods. Minimum temperature 12 °C.
