Wed Sep 18 14:22:46 UTC 2024: ## Elderly Driver Pleads Guilty to Causing Schoolgirl’s Death in Carrickfergus
A 92-year-old pensioner from Carrickfergus, John Noble Lindsay, has pleaded guilty to causing the death of 8-year-old Scarlett Rossborough by careless driving. The tragic incident occurred on High Street in Carrickfergus on August 9, 2023.
Lindsay, who was brought to Belfast Crown Court in a wheelchair, originally faced a charge of causing death by dangerous driving. However, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of causing death by careless driving.
Defence counsel Frank O’Donoghue KC stated that Lindsay is not contesting the fact that his driving caused Scarlett’s death, but rather the severity of the charge. He attributed the incident to “pedal misapplication”, a common occurrence in elderly drivers, where they mistakenly press the accelerator instead of the brake.
The prosecution has applied to have Lindsay permanently disqualified from driving, a request Judge Patricia Smyth granted.
The case will proceed to trial on November 4, 2024, to determine whether Lindsay’s driving should be classified as dangerous.
Scarlett Rossborough, a pupil at Linn Primary School in Larne, was described by her teachers as “a much-loved pupil” with an “infectious giggle and sense of fun”. The school community is deeply saddened by her loss.
The incident occurred while Scarlett and other children were on a summer scheme trip organized by a local community centre.
First Piper 