Killer driver faces new motoring charges

A drunk driver who killed three people in a head-on car crash has been charged with a string of new motoring offences just weeks after being freed from jail, it was revealed today.

Darren Kernohan, 31, was stopped by police in Belfast who suspected he was under the influence.

He has also been accused of getting behind the wheel of a stolen car.

The killer, who was arrested last Sunday, had been released from Magilligan Prison, Co Derry on June 20.

He was jailed in March 2003 after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Kernohan, twice over the legal drink-drive limit, was being chased by police when he lost control of his MR2 sports car at Dunadry, Co Antrim and smashed into a Rover vehicle in August 2001.

Brother and sister Alan Walker, 33, and Agnes Wilson, 31, from Newtownabbey, and driver Clements Parkinson, of Ballyduff, were all killed.

A fourth person injured in the crash was confined to a wheelchair.

The pursuit which ended in tragedy began when police spotted Kernohan’s car facing the wrong way at a roundabout.

He ignored police sirens and flashing lights.

Kernohan, of Craighill, Antrim, also admitted causing grievous bodily injury by dangerous driving, driving while unfit and having no insurance.

Jailing him for six-and-a-half years, Judge David Smyth said any sentence he passed would never match the loss felt by the families of those he killed.

Under the 50% remission regulations, however, he only served half that period behind bars.

At Belfast Magistrates Court this week, he faced a total of five new charges.

These were driving while disqualified; having no insurance; obstructing police; driving while unfit through drink or drugs; and taking a motor vehicle without consent.

He was remanded back into custody, at Maghaberry Prison near Lisburn, Co Antrim, to appear again next month.