Victims hit out at court sentence for OAP who ploughed into them after mixing up controls of her car

IT was a friends’ golfing trip which went catastrophically wrong, leaving two pals with life-changing injuries.

Gail McAllister, Rhona Smith, Irene Morrison and Melanie Anderson were sightseeing in a pretty Aberdeenshire village after their match was rained off, when they were struck by an out-of-control car driven by an 80-year-old woman.

Melanie and Irene both suffered serious injuries, face on-going surgery and have yet to return to work.

Now the women are speaking out after driver Marjory Stewart – whose car careered out of control when she mixed up the brake and accelerator pedals – was found guilty of careless driving and fined £400, but was allowed to keep her licence.

Environmental health inspector Irene, 51, was left agonisingly trapped between Mrs Stewart’s Kia and the car she had been loading shopping into.

She was taken 50 miles by air ambulance to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for emergency surgery. One year, on she has undergone several operations and like all four friends, has been left traumatised by the accident.

Last night Irene said: “How can the court be sure this woman is safe to drive?

“Shouldn’t she be required to sit a driving test, at the very least?

“It begs the question what damage do you need to do to someone before you lose your licence?”

Her catalogue of injuries include an open fracture to two major leg bones, muscle, soft tissue and skin loss, and damaged knee ligaments, including the one that holds the knee together.

She said: “I remained in Aberdeen Royal for three weeks before being transferred to Monklands Hospital in Airdrie for another three.

“For two months after leaving hospital I could only leave home for hospital appointments.

“It took two ambulance attendants to lift me out of the house on a chair and downstairs.

“I could not even sit in my garden.

“In October my physiotherapist showed me how to manage the stairs.

“It took until then to bear any weight at all on my leg.

“I can now walk a limited distance unaided but I still have a long way to go to walk properly again.

“I went from being a very independent active person, golfing, swimming, walking, spin classes to being housebound, shuffling about with a Zimmer frame and relying on everyone else.”

Her ordeal continues with a cage-like frame scaffold treatment now attached to her leg bones for four months.

She may face further surgery. Irene’s elderly parents, in their eighties, have been her main support and carers throughout.

“I am having to work extremely hard… knowing the likelihood is that I will never achieve what I had before.

“Unless someone has ever experienced such severe injury and loss of mobility and
independence they can never fully appreciate what it is like to have your life put on hold.”

While her injuries have not been as severe, Melanie Anderson, 50, has also had to endure painful surgery.

“I still have a hole in my left knee and had to undergo plastic surgery to replace lost flesh and skin.

“For three months I had my left leg locked in a brace day and night.

“The wound on my left knee was so bad I had to have surgery to drain the fluid a year later. Walking is a struggle.”

Accountant Melanie has also not managed to return to work.

“My doctors say I may face further surgery,” she revealed.

“Coming to terms with such a sudden and painful road accident is extremely hard.

“My entire family has been affected especially my parents, now in their seventies.

“The verdict feels as though no one is taking responsibility. A small fine and no loss of licence is hardly adequate.

“We have lost more.

“Surely there is a case for people who have caused such serious damage to have their driving assessed?”

Civil servant Rhona, 53, said: “CCTV of the accident played out our ordeal in court.

“I managed to jump out of the way. Watching a car plough into good friends is very traumatic.

“I have had counselling to deal with it.

“Does Marjory Stewart realise the effect she has had on all of us?

Civil servant Gail, 51, said the events of the day are imprinted permanently on her mind.

“I heard a car screech and thought, ‘This car’s going to hit me!’

“Before we knew it, it had and I could see Irene’s legs trapped between the cars.

“Rhona was screaming. It was like an accident scene from a TV drama but it was happening to us.

“I ended up being sick with shock. My back and arm were injured.

“I could see Melanie’s leg was burst open.

“We have all suffered both emotionally and physically.

“The sentence is so unjust. It does not reflect the severity of the injuries.

“It has also perhaps ended the wonderful social life we had, playing golf.

“I did not want a custodial sentence, but assurance that this woman is fit to drive.”

Stewart went on trial last week charged with causing serious injury by driving dangerously at The Square in Portsoy in Aberdeenshire.

She denied the offence at Banff Sheriff Court and was found guilty of the lesser charge of careless driving.

Stewart, now 81, told police that she confused the car brake with the accelerator while trying to park her car.

The court heard that the car had been provided to Stewart under the UK’s Motability Scheme in May.

She was eligible for the car because she had previously suffered a heart attack and found it difficult to walk long distances.

The pensioner also cares for her husband who suffers severe mobility issues due to problems with his legs.

Her lawyer, David Cairns, said: “It would be fair to say the whole incident has left a mark on Mrs Stewart, it was quite traumatic.”

In addition to the fine, eight points were placed on her driving licence.

Stewart, who continues to drive, refused to comment as she left court.