Father sent to jail for trying to help son avois prison

Dec 7 2007

THE father of a teenage car thief who knocked down and killed a grandfather with his own car was yesterday jailed for trying to save his son from imprisonment.

Dean Fagan, 15, jumped into a Volkswagen Golf, which Kenneth Bostock had left running while opening the garage at his Netherton home. When 66- year-old Mr Bostock tried to stop him, Fagan knocked him down and ran over him.

Afterwards, he went home and his father, Dean McDonough, smashed his mobile phone with a hammer.  But it came to light during Fagan's trial last autumn that it had been crushed and put in a bin by his father, and McDonough was arrested.

McDonough, 40, of The Beech Walk, Knotty Ash, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice in November 2005. He also admitted driving dangerously, while disqualified, failing to stop after an accident and failing to report it. He was jailed for two years and banned from driving for three years.

David McLachlan, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that McDonough's son, who is now 16, was sentenced to four years eight months’ detention last autumn after admitting man- slaughter.

During his trial, the fate of his mobile phone emerged during questioning. He said he had not told police as he was scared that his dad would get the blame. He had used the phone after the incident.

Mr McLachlan said that, originally, McDonough had been charged with setting fire to the stolen car and getting rid of his son's clothing but that was later dropped.

On March 4 this year, police saw McDonough driving along the East Lancashire road in a Peugeot Boxer van towards Manchester. When he stopped at a petrol station, officers approached him but he sped off and a chase took place.

He ignored signals to stop and did not give way at junctions, said Mr McLachlan. He went on to the M60 and forced other cars to swerve. He turned onto the A62 towards Oldham town centre travelling at twice the 30 mph speed limit and going through sets of red traffic lights. He collided with a Land Rover but did not stop. Eventually, he was eventually brought to a halt when police deployed a stinger device.

Defence barrister Ian Harris said McDonough, who runs a roofing company, had apologised to members of the Bostock family outside court for his son's actions.

The police did not have his son's phone but did have the phone records showing who Fagan had spoken to after the accident.