A man who ran over two teenage boys claims he did so because his own son was being bullied.
Electrician Kevin Connolly, 41, ploughed his Ford Mondeo into the two 15-years-olds as they ran into a park in Dumbarton, Scotland, on September 12, 2021.
The enraged father-of-three hunted the pair down after his porch window was smashed by one of their group and they fled the scene.
Connolly’s lawyer told the High Court in Glasgow that youths had bullied his son in the past. After the group vandalised the family home that night, Connolly’s son chased after them and Connolly got into his car to look for him.
First-time offender Connolly initially faced a double attempted murder charge against the boys.
Electrician Kevin Connolly, 41, ploughed his Ford Mondeo into two 15-years-olds as they ran into a park in Dumbarton, Scotland, on September 12, 2021
Connolly initially faced a double attempted murder charge, however the High Court of Glasgow (pictured) today heard the Crown accepted a plea of assaulting the boys to the danger of their lives
However, the Crown accepted today pleas of guilty to assaulting them to the danger of their lives.
The court heard the boys were with others in the Brucehill area outside Connolly’s home in Dumbarton at around 8.30pm.
Prosecutor Leanne McQuillan said: ‘One of the group – not one of the victims – threw a large stone at Connolly’s front door causing the porch window beside it to break.’
The youths fled the scene while Connolly got behind the wheel of his car. One of the boys entered a nearby car and was tailed by Connolly.
The boy got out of the car as it approached a park.
Miss McQuillan said: ‘As he made his way to the entrance [of the park], Connolly’s vehicle mounted the pavement and struck the boy from behind causing him to fall to the ground.’
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The other boy then helped the victim to his feet and carried him into the park.
The prosecutor added: ‘Connolly drove his vehicle onto the footpath in the park and then onto the grass where the boys were.
‘He drove at speed towards the other boy and struck him to the right leg causing him to fall to the ground. He then drove over both of the other boy’s legs.’
Both boys were taken to hospital while Connolly fled to his sister’s house in a ‘terrified’ state.
Police noted that Connolly’s car had signs of damage to it. Connolly notified police of his whereabouts and reported vandalisms to his property and car. He was arrested two days later.
One of the boys was treated for fractures to his foot with metal plates inserted and skin taken from his thigh.
Miss McQuillan added: ‘There will be permanent scarring to the foot and the thigh as a result of the surgical procedure.
‘He was not able to bear weight on his foot for six weeks and will have permanently reduced mobility.’
The other boy escaped with minor injuries and was discharged after observation.
Sean Templeton, defending, told the court: ‘The middle son was subject to a campaign by youths who took to bullying and intimidating him.
‘This escalated where the intimidation moved from himself to his home. The child ran out the house and pursued the youths.’
Mr Templeton added that Connolly initially went to look for his son, who he thought would be seriously assaulted by the youths.
He added: ‘He did not see his son and came across the boys – he was in a panic as he thought his son was going to be set about and that’s the reasons the actions were inflicted the way did.’
Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Judge Lord Richardson: ‘You have pled guilty to serious offences. I am persuaded to continue bail but don’t read anything into that.’
