PSNI officer’devastated’ after Maghera crash, court told

Trevor Kane (42), c/o Tactical Support Group, OCU Urban, Belfast, was also fined £315 for causing grievious bodily harm through careless driving on the morning of March 4 last year.

A prosecuting lawyer told Magherafelt Magistrates Court that the accident occurred while a convoy of four Land Rovers was making its way along the Glenshane Road, Maghera, back to Belfast from Derry shortly after 6am.

She said the injured party, who was driving a Volkswagen car in the opposite direction, saw headlights on the road in front of her.

The lawyer said the motorist pulled to the left but was unable to avoid a collision, the force of which pushed her vehicle up on to the grass embankment.

The motorist sustained extensive injuries in the accident and was still receiving hospital treatment, said the prosecutor.

A defence lawyer said the defendant accepted he had “a momentary lapse of concentration” while behind the steering wheel.

He stressed that Kane was aware of the serious consequences for the injured party to whom he apologised.

Handing into court a character reference from the officer’s inspector, the lawyer said the defendant as someone who had joined the police to protect the public, had been left devastated by the fact that he had injured a member of the public.

District Judge Alan White said he accepted that the accident had been caused by a momentary lapse of concentration.

He said on rare occasions it resulted in serious injury or death.