Man pleads guilty to dangerous driving child crash death

A 92-year-old man has pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving in relation to the death of schoolgirl Scarlett Rossborough from Larne.

The eight-year-old died after being struck by a car driven by John Noble Lindsay in Carrickfergus in August 2023.

John Noble Lindsay, of Prince Andrew Way, Carrickfergus, appeared at Belfast Crown Court on Friday.

He had previously pleaded guilty to another charge of causing death by careless driving in relation to the child's death but denied the charge of causing her death by dangerous driving.

On Friday, Mr Lindsay's barrister asked that he be re-arraigned on the charge he initially denied.

After confirming his identity to a court clerk, the pensioner, who is a wheelchair user, was charged that on 9 August 2023 he caused the death of Scarlett Rossborough by driving dangerously on High Street in Carrickfergus.

When asked how he pleaded, Lindsay said: "Your honour, I plead guilty to dangerous driving causing death."

As a result of the guilty plea, Judge Smyth said the charge of causing Scarlett's death by careless driving was being vacated and would be "left on the books".

Mr O'Donoghue told the court that a pre-sentence report on his client will now be obtained.

He added that additional medical reports will be submitted on behalf of Lindsay who he said was "in frail, ill health".

Mr O'Donoghue said: "The defendant has expressed the wish that he would want this case dealt with long in advance of Christmas".

"He does not want it dragging towards Christmas as he does not want to cause any additional stress to the family."

Judge Smyth said she would hear the plea regarding the "very tragic matter" on 5 December.

After no objections were raised by the Crown, Mr Lindsay was released on continuing bail.