Teen remanded in custody over police pursuit which left two in hospital

QRadio news

A teenager has been remanded in custody accused of being behind the wheel of a car involved in two collisions amid a police pursuit in Belfast.

Tom Mongan was arrested after a female pedestrian was hit by the vehicle on Thursday afternoon.

The 18-year-old, of White Rise in the Dunmurry area, appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court charged with 11 motoring offences.

Police said they began their pursuit of the car at Clifton Street in the north of the city, before it struck the woman and made off. 

The vehicle then allegedly collided with another car on the Newtownards Road in east Belfast.

Both the pedestrian, and a woman who was driving the second vehicle, received hospital treatment.

They are not believed to have any life-threatening injuries.

With the Police Ombudsman informed about the incident, Mongan was one of two men subsequently arrested.

He faces three counts of dangerous driving - at Clifton Street, on the Westlink and along the Newtownards Road - as well as failing to stop for police.

Further charges include failing to stop, report or remain at the scene of an accident where injury was caused to someone else.

He is also accused of driving while disqualified and driving a Volkswagen Passat without insurance.

Dressed in a grey tracksuit, Mongan spoke only to confirm he understood the allegations against him.

A detective constable said he could connect the accused to the charges.

No application for bail was made during the brief hearing.

Instead, District Judge Fiona Bagnall remanded Mongan in custody to appear again by video-link in two weeks time.

As the defendant was being led back to the cells some female relatives left the court in tears. 

Meanwhile, a 32-year-old man charged with permitting use of a car without insurance and failing to give information regarding a driver is due to appear at the same court next month.