Publication date:
A man has been sentenced at Belfast Crown Court after admitting a charge of causing death by careless driving.
Martin Sean Olali will serve two years and seven months, of which half will be spent in custody and half on licence.
Richard Boyle was struck by a car on the Stewartstown Road in Belfast while walking his dog in February 2021 and died of his injuries.
Martin Sean Olali was the driver of the vehicle which struck Mr. O’Boyle. He drove off from the scene and later abandoned his car, which was found with fire damage. He then lied to police stating that he was at home at the time of the collision and that his mobile phone and car had been stolen. Others assisted him in attempting to cover up what he had done.
Martin Sean Olali was sentenced to 22 months for causing death by careless driving, to three months for using a motor vehicle without insurance, to three months for failing to stop where an accident had occurred and to three months for failing to report where an accident had occurred. These sentences will be served concurrently. He was also sentenced to nine months for perverting the course of justice, which will be served consecutively. He was disqualified from driving for three years.
Four other people were sentenced in relation to the same incident.
Martin Paul Olali, who is Martin Sean Olali’s father, was sentenced to 12 months, suspended for two years, for withholding information concerning an arrestable offence.
Emma McCune was sentenced to 11 months, suspended for 18 months, for withholding information concerning an arrestable offence.
Hugh O'Neill was sentenced to nine months for assisting offenders and to nine months for withholding information concerning an arrestable offence. This was suspended for 18 months.
Tiernan Jack Holden was sentenced to 18 months for assisting offenders and to 18 months for withholding information concerning an arrestable offence. This was suspended for three years.
PPS Senior Public Prosecutor Dominic McAuley said:
“This was a tragic case arising from an incident in which a man lost his life. The family’s grief was compounded by the defendant leaving the scene of the collision and attempting, with others, to cover up what he had done.
"We worked with police to build a robust case against these offenders which resulted in guilty pleas and the conclusion of proceedings today. I hope the convictions in this case send a strong message that the PPS takes offending of this nature seriously.
"We will pursue and prosecute offenders to secure justice for victims of these crimes. While nothing can lessen their loss, I hope the conclusion of this case provides some form of comfort to Mr Boyle’s loved ones.
ENDS.
Notes to Editors
- All decisions by the PPS are taken strictly in accordance with the Test for Prosecution (https://www.ppsni.gov.uk/how-we-reach-decisions) which involves two stages. The Test for Prosecution is met if, in relation to an identifiable suspect, the available evidence is sufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of a conviction (the Evidential Test) and if prosecution is in the public interest (the Public Interest Test). The Evidential Test must be passed first before the Public Interest Test is considered. Further information can be found in the PPS Code for Prosecutors (https://www.ppsni.gov.uk/publications/code-prosecutors).
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