Courts

Man remanded into custody accused of dangerous driving causing deaths of father and son in Co Armagh

Judge says he believes Ivan Petrov (32) ‘has a cavalier attitude to his driving responsibilities’ due to past offending

The coffins of father and son Peter and Loughlin Devlin are carried into the Church of St Joseph in Tynan, Co Armagh, for their funeral. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
The coffins of father and son Peter and Loughlin Devlin are carried into the Church of St Joseph in Tynan, Co Armagh, for their funeral. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Paul Higgins
Fri Jan 03 2025 - 12:54

A man has been remanded into custody accused of causing the deaths of a father and son by dangerous driving.

Ivan Petrov (32), of Newry Road, Co Armagh, appeared before Newry Magistrates Court on Friday and confirmed he understood the charges against him.

The Bulgarian national is accused of causing the deaths of Peter (63) and Loughlin Devlin (28) by driving dangerously on the Killylea Road, Co Armagh on December 27th last. He is further charged with dangerous driving causing grievous bodily injury to a woman, who the court heard remains in hospital “in a critical condition.”

PSNI Constable Hoy told the court police were objecting to bail due to concerns the accused could be a flight risk or commit further offences. Defence solicitor Adrian Harvey asked officer to outline the basis of the charge.

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Constable Hoy said a black Mercedes being driven by Loughlin Devlin was involved in a head-on collision with an Audi A8 being driven by Mr Petrov on December 27th. Police and ambulance personnel rushed to the scene, where Peter and Loughlin Devlin were pronounced dead a short time later.

Three other passengers in the Mercedes were taken to hospital – the woman who remains in a critical condition and another woman and a baby boy, who have since been released.

The court heard that Mr Petrov was also taken to hospital and treated for a broken arm and rib fractures. He was interviewed and charged after being released.

Constable Hoy said, based on photographs, an examination of the scene and witness accounts from other drivers, police believe the Audi had “failed to negotiate” a left hand bend and veered on to the wrong side of the road, resulting in the collision.

The constable said Mr Petrov told police he was diabetic, felt his blood sugar was low and had pulled over to eat a chocolate bar and then “felt that he was okay to drive”. He also told police “he cannot remember the accident” and his last memory was eating the chocolate in Armagh before continuing his journey.

District Judge Eamon King said Mr Petrov’s has multiple convictions for driving with no insurance, driving without a licence and not restraining a child, culminating in driving bans in 2015 and 2018.

The judge said Mr Petrov “has a cavalier attitude to his driving responsibilities” and he was refusing bail. He remanded the accused into custody and adjourned the case to January 21st.