A judge has expressed "surprise" that, while the RUC arrested a Dublin motorist and charged him with a traffic offence following an accident, no action had been taken against the other motorist, a Co Antrim taxi-driver.
The Circuit Court President, Mr Justice Esmond Smyth, said it was not surprising that Co Dublin driver Mr Lawrence Scally had been prosecuted for driving without due care and attention after having become confused on a Belfast motorway roundabout.
What had been somewhat surprising was that Mr Eric Hull, Ravernette Road, Lisburn, had not been prosecuted. It was obvious from the uncontradicted accident sketch map that Mr Hull's taxi had left a skid mark almost 85 feet long.
Yesterday Mr Hull was awarded £8,262 damages against Mr Scally, of White church Drive, Ballyboden, in the Dublin Circuit Court, the residential jurisdiction of the defendant.
Mr Justice Smyth reduced an award of £12,393 damages after holding Mr Hull one-third responsible for the accident.