Prosecutors said the children, aged five, six and seven, were playing on the footpath when a car reversed out of a neighbouring house and over the top of them
Laganside Courts in Belfast (Image: Liam McBurney/PA Wire)
A motorist drank up to 12 tins of beer before he allegedly drove over three children in a west Belfast neighbourhood, the High Court has heard.
Thomas Maughan, 37, fled the scene after the two girls and a boy were trapped under his car at Black Ridge View, prosecutors claimed.
Details emerged as he was granted bail on charges related to the hit and run collision where one of the young victims suffered a fractured pelvis.
Maughan, of Black Ridge Gardens in Belfast, faces counts of driving with excess alcohol and causing grievous bodily injury by dangerous driving.
He is also accused of failing to stop, report or remain at the scene of the accident on August 24 last year.
Prosecutors said the children, aged five, six and seven, were playing on the footpath when a car reversed out of a neighbouring house and over the top of them.
The driver then got out and fled on foot without checking on their condition, it was claimed.
Maughan was arrested after being spotted at the end of the street in a taxi blocked off by emergency service vehicles.
During interviews he admitted driving with excess alcohol and failing to stop following the collision, the court heard.
Maughan told police he began drinking at an engagement party the previous night and continued on into the day of the accident.
“He stated that he had approximately 12 beers before the incident,” Crown counsel disclosed.
Maughan said he drove to visit a family member in the area before getting back into his car.
He saw no-one nearby as he was leaving, but then heard children screaming and reversed amid concerns they could be trapped.
The three young victims were taken to hospital to be treated for potentially serious injuries.
One of the children sustained fractures to their pelvis and tyre marks, while another of them suffered cuts and bruises.
Maughan had been out on bail but returned to custody last month for allegedly breaching an alcohol ban.
Opposing his bid to be released again, the prosecutor submitted: “Clear CCTV of the incident showed the defendant getting into his car and driving directly over the three children on the footpath.
“They were trapped under the vehicle, the defendant reversed back over them and parked up… without checking on their welfare.”
Maughan’s lawyers previously argued that he had failed to see the youngsters because they were lying on the ground playing with chalk.
When he heard the screams he reversed at that stage to lessen the impact and free them.
Mr Justice Simpson was told that last month’s breach involved no further offences.
Granting bail to Maughan once more, the judge warned: “If he is found having consumed alcohol again he will not have another chance.”
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