Man remanded on hit-and-run accident charges

A 30-year-old man charged with injuring two young boys in a hit-and-run accident in Belfast last week was remanded in custody when he appeared in court today.

Unemployed Patrick Collins, of no fixed abode, faced two counts of causing grievous bodily injury by dangerous driving when he appeared before Belfast magistrates.

Collins, who was remanded in custody for a week, also faced a series of other charges including stealing a motor vehicle, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, failing to remain at the scene of an accident, and failing to report an accident.

Ten-year-old Deaglan Bassett and 12-year-old Brendan Dobbin were riding their bicycles close to Belfast central station last Thursday when they were struck at a pedestrian crossing by a stolen car.

Their new bicycles were Christmas presents and it was the first time the friends had been able to use them after the snow cleared.

Brendan Dobbin suffered serious head and facial injuries and spent three days in intensive care. He remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Deaglan Bassett was released from hospital the day after the accident.

The car involved, a Hyundai Accent, which had been was stolen at Newtownabbey on the northern outskirts of Belfast last month and fitted with false number plates, was found abandoned a short distance from the scene of the accident.

Deaglan Bassett’s mother Sauneen was in court and screamed at Collins as he was led from the dock.