A pensioner who knocked down and killed an eight-year old schoolgirl will be handed a suspended sentence.
Scarlett Rossborough died after being struck by a car driven by John Noble Lindsay (92) on High Street in Carrickfergus last August.
Lindsay from Prince Andrew Way in Carrick, admitted a charge of causing Scarlett’s death by dangerous driving.
He is currently in hospital and was excused from attending Monday’s hearing at Belfast Crown Court.
Giving her judgment, Judge Patricia Smyth said she will be imposing a 10-month sentence upon Lindsay, which will be suspended for 12 months, “when he is well enough” to be sentenced.
The former RUC officer will also be banned from driving for five years.
The Belfast Recorder said: “The enormity of the tragedy cannot be put into words.
“Scarlett was a beautiful, happy child, loved by all who knew her. She was eight years old and described as the princess of the family.
“She was the kindest, most sensitive, empathetic little person. She was determined and passionate.”
Revealing that Scarlett loved sports, music and was a keen artist and gymnast who loved to play with her little brother, Judge Smyth said: “The shocking circumstances of her death have affected so many people and nothing can turn back the clock and restore the precious young life that has been lost.”
On the day in question Scarlett - who attended Linn Primary School in Larne - was amongst a group of children and adult leaders from a local community centre summer scheme enjoying a day out to Carrick Castle.
Crown barrister David Russell KC said that as the group was walking along the footpath on High Street, Lindsay’s car mounted the footpath and struck three children.
Police spoke to Lindsay at the scene and when he was asked what happened, he replied “I don’t know” and said he had been trying to get into the parking space.
He was later interviewed and in a pre-prepared statement, he accepted being the driver and that his vehicle mounted the footpath.
Defence barrister Frank O’Donoghue KC said: “The defendant has always accepted full responsibility for what occurred. His guilt is total and his feelings of guilt are unrelenting.
He also spoke of Lindsay’s deteriorating health, with the court hearing that a recent medical report determined his life expectancy to be between nine months to a year.
During Monday’s hearing, Judge Smyth spoke of the loss suffered by Scarlett’s family, many of whom set out their grief in Victim Impact Statements.
This included Scarlett’s mother who has been left ‘haunted’ by the tragedy and who has called for a new law - Scarlett’s Law - which would ban very elderly people from driving in the interests of the public.
Judge Smyth also noted that Scarlett’s father’s life has been “ripped apart” by what happened to his daughter.
Saying this case “highlights the very real risk that elderly drivers pose to other road users”, Judge Smyth said: “If anything good can come out of this, it will be a new Scarlett’s Law.”