Death crash driver drove at 127mph months after getting his licence back

A HORRIFIED judge has described the actions of a convicted death driver as “absolutely extraordinary” on hearing he carried out a dangerous undertaking manoeuvre then hit a speed of 127mph on the M1 in Dungannon less than a year after regaining his licence.

Alan Forsythe (29) from Cavey Road, Ballygawley was to contest a charge of dangerous driving but switched his plea at the last minute.

Dungannon Magistrates Court heard police were travelling in the outside lane of the M1, just after 5pm on August 13, in the process of overtaking a slower-moving car in the inside lane.

They became aware that a black car had approached at speed, driving extremely close behind.

This car then suddenly undertook the slower-moving vehicle at speed before squeezing back into the very limited space between it and the police vehicle, then speeding off.

Police kept pace for around a mile and during that time the speed varied, at one point reaching 127mph and not falling below 120mph.

Officers called off the pursuit as it was deemed too dangerous.

Enquires later led to Forsythe being identified as the driver who was spoken to and reported for prosecution.

At court, a defence lawyer referred to the single-vehicle collision when Forsythe was behind the wheel, causing the death of his friend. This occurred when he was 19 and for which he served 18 months’ imprisonment with a five-year driving ban.

Forsythe regained his driving licence in late 2017 and the latest incident occurred within a year.

In respect of the incident itself, the defence said his client had left a friend off in Portadown and was “behind in terms of the clock”.

The defence accepted in a pre-sentence report that Forsythe “showed some minimalisation, and had lost credit by intending to contest the charge.

“He has struggled to cope with his friend’s death but accepts that rings hollow in the face of this matter,” the defence contended, while also pointing out that Forsythe is “ashamed of himself ”.

Addressing Forsythe directly, District Judge John Meehan said: “It is absolutely extraordinary that someone who killed a person by the manner of his driving could be travelling at that speed. To undertake a slower-moving vehicle, then swing back into lane, while the police car was also trying to pull in, must have caused horror. You put everyone at risk of immediate death. You should not be in charge of any vehicle on a road.”

Imposing a two-month prison sentence which was suspended for two years, the judge added: “Given such flagrant disregard for everyone, the court is determined to make it quite clear you are not to be on the roads.”

Forsythe was disqualified for four years.