Castlemilk hit & run driver sentenced to 11 years
Last updated 25th Sep 2018
A man has been jailed for 11 years after he admitted trying to kill six children in a hit-and-run in Castlemilk in Glasgow.
The youngsters, aged between 12 and 14, were standing on a pavement in Saturday March 24 when 22 year old Gerald Gavan drove at them in a silver Vauxhall Astra - he'd been intending to him another man, Billy McGregor, who was nearby.
One 14 year-old girl - who Gavan also reversed over - suffered a broken neck and required lengthy surgery.
The man, 21, and the other youngsters caught up in the hit-and-run suffered minor injuries.
Gavan pleaded guilty last month to the attempted murder of the children and the man and he was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing which was deferred until today.
Gavan has also been disqualified from driving for 15 years when he appeared for sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Detective Inspector Peter Sharp said after the plea in August: This incident which unfolded in the afternoon of Saturday March 24 in Castlemilk was something which will no doubt stay in the minds of the young victims for a long time.
"The injuries sustained by the 14-year-old girl were so serious that she required immediate surgery.
"Thankfully she survived, however the consequences could have been much, much worse.''
Gavan and McGregor have links to opposing sides connected to the murder of Jamie Lee in the area in July 2017.
At the trial the judge watched graphic footage of the children being hurtled into the air as the 22 year-old carpet salesman from East Kilbride hit both them and McGregor.
Prosecutor Maryam Labaki said the background to this crime was a “family feud” involving a “fatality”.
She added: “Gavan is associated with one side of that dispute.”
Gavan's former co-accused Gary Owen - who had not guilty pleas accepted - is a relative of Jordan Owen wanted in connection with the play park shooting of Jamie Lee.
The hit and run occurred after McGregor - also known as William Dearie - had gone to a local shop around 4pm.
The children were meantime “talking and laughing together” in the same street.
The prosecutor told the court: “The car accelerated and steered towards Billy McGregor travelling diagonally and mounting the pavement.
“As the car collided with the group, six of them were struck causing them to be thrown up into the air in different directions.
“Two of the children who had been sent flying were hit with such force that they were carried over a parked car landing on the ground opposite.”
A 14 year-old girl was unable to get up. Gavan then reversed over her before “leaving the scene at speed”.
The court heard he was unaware she was still on the ground.
The teenager was found to have a badly broken neck and needed an initial six hour operation.
She later had a titanium plate attached to her spine to help her recovery.
The girl was finally able to leave hospital around a fortnight after the incident.
The court heard her injury is “healing well”. Despite the horror, one senior medic stated it is hoped she will fortunately make a full recovery.
A 13 year-old boy was meantime treated for a leg injury. A 14 year-old boy needed stitches for a knee wound.
A 13 year-old girl was badly bruised while a 12 year-old girl was treated at hospital for muscle injuries.
Another 14 year-old girl went on to require physiotherapy.
McGregor had cuts to his arm and leg - as well as bruising - but “declined medical attention”.
The court heard Gavan's guilty plea was accepted on basis he had “intended to cause physical injury” to McGregor