Road ban biker who saw his brother die in crash is spared jail
A MOTORCYCLIST has avoided prison for driving while disqualified after the judge noted how he had witnessed his brother dying in a road accident that same day.
District Judge Liam McNally was speaking at Coleraine Magistrates Court where Grzegorz Cadler (40), of Meetinghouse Avenue, Maghera, was ordered to do 200 hours community service and was banned from the road for the next four years.
Cadler was in court for sentencing on charges of driving while disqualified and having no insurance, which he had previously pleaded guilty to.
Cadler, who runs a knife sharpening business, had been riding in a convoy of motorcyclists returning from the North West 200 road races on May 14 last year when his brother Krystian Cadler (20), who was a pillion passenger on another motorbike, was killed in a collision with a vehicle.
After the accident at Agivey Road, between Aghadowey and Kilrea, Grzegorz Cadler made an emotional visit to the scene to erect a cross in memory of Krystian and lay flowers.
It emerged later Cadler was riding a Honda motorcycle that day despite being banned from the road and being uninsured.
Defence barrister Michael Smyth said his client has lived in Northern Ireland for some time and had previously been banned from driving for five years for drink-driving.
Mr Smyth said the defendant had previously gone to Poland, but was confused about the original five-year driving ban.
When Grzegorz Cadler made enquiries with police there, said Mr Smyth, his ban was not on their system and he was issued with a Polish driving licence.
Mr Smyth said the defendant returned to Northern Ireland where he was able to obtain insurance without disclosing his convictions.
On the day of the tragedy last year Mr Smyth said the defendant “watched his brother being killed on the road in front of him” and he had been “badly affected” by it.
Imposing community service, Judge McNally said that the only thing stopping him from sending the defendant to prison was the fact that he had witnessed the death of his brother.
The judge said he was not convinced that the defendant had done anything other than “cutely” obtaining a Polish licence.