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Man told to expect prison after 70-year-old pedestrian killed

Ita DunganBBC News NI
News imageGoogle A street view of a yellow box junction. A grey jeep can be seen behind a pedestrian island with railing and traffic lights. There is a brick and yellow building in the centre behind the junction. Trees can be seen along the roadside.Google
Paul Marshall, 70, died a week after being hit by a van at the the Millfield junction area of Belfast

A north Belfast man has been told to expect a prison sentence for causing the death of a 70-year-old pedestrian.

John Taggart, 36, from Torrens Link, was driving a van at the Millfield junction near Belfast city centre when he hit Paul Marshall in September 2024.

Taggart had tried to undertake a vehicle which had caused him to mount a traffic island where the victim was standing.

He died a week later.

Taggart, pleaded guilty last year to causing the death of the pensioner and to driving with excess alcohol.

He was three times over the drink drive limit.

The court heard that Taggart had been drinking until 04:30 GMT on the day of the accident.

He started his shift as a van driver at 07:30 GMT.

The judge told the court that Taggart had been viewed on video footage drinking from a bottle containing alcohol before the collision at 17:35 GMT.

Taggart's barrister said that his client had recognised how terribly he had behaved and had expressed sorrow and contrition for what had happened.

Judge Neil Rafferty KC said he would pass sentence on Friday.

The judge did not remand Taggart into custody but allowed him to remain on continuing bail. His partner is currently in labour and the judge said he would extend the defendant "limited mercy" to be able to see his new baby.