Father and daughter had partial limb amputations after crash, court told

A man has appeared in court charged in connection with a road traffic collision that resulted in an eight-year-old girl and her father both needing partial limb amputations.

Brannon Mullan, 36, from Shanmullagh Park, in Draperstown, is charged with causing grievous bodily injury by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice.

He is also accused of driving after consuming excess alcohol, having an incorrect registration mark and failing to notify ownership of the vehicle.

An officer told Enniskillen Magistrates' Court that on 25 July, police received a report of a two-vehicle collision at Edergoole Road, Omagh, and officers saw the father and child lying on the road with serious lower limb injuries.

He said officers also saw a white van with damage to the front and a quad on its side.

Mullan was arrested after failing a preliminary breath test and confirming that he was driving the van.

The court was also told that witnesses told police a fire was lit in the front passenger seat of the van shortly after the collision.

The officer said: "It was clear the victims had suffered life changing injuries. Both have since had amputations. The man has had an amputation below his ankle and the child has had an amputation below her knee."

Police objected to bail with the officer saying Mullan "inexplicably tried to set fire to his van right in the aftermath".

Mullan's solicitor said this was a "tragic incident" but added that he had remained at the scene.

He accepted being the driver of the vehicle in interview, said the defence solicitor.

Refusing bail, District Judge Alana McSorley said that the child and father have "serious, life-changing injuries".

Mullan was remanded in custody to appear again by video-link at Omagh Magistrates Court on 18 August.