A disabled driver, close to three times the legal drink-drive limit, killed a Montrose couple as they returned home from a Scottish country dance night in Arbroath.
Alistair David Ferrier (30), of St Thomas Crescent, Arbroath, appeared at the High Court in Dundee on Wednesday and admitted causing the fatal accident by driving dangerously.
Retired HGV driver John Gibson (69) and his wife Isabella (68) were killed and their lifelong friend Gertrude Massie (71) was critically injured in the accident on December 14, 2008.
Ferrier admitted driving dangerously at speed out of Montrose and on to the A92 before losing control close to Upper Dysart Farm by Lunan.
His Motability Vauxhall Astra swerved on to the wrong side of the road and smashed into the car driven by Mr Gibson.
Advocate depute John Scullion said Ferrier had previous convictions for driving without insurance, driving without a licence, driving while disqualified and speeding.
A month before the accident Ferrier underwent residential drug rehabilitation and to keep away from his former associates, he stayed with friends in Montrose after the course was over.
He went to the pub with his friends after visiting his mother in Arbroath on the afternoon of the day of the smash. After his first two pints of lager, he handed over his car keys to one of his friends.
He went back to the house where he was staying for dinner before returning to the Anchor Bar.
Mr Scullion said, “CCTV footage from the bar showed the accused drank a further four pints of lager during the course of the evening.’Drunk'”Some time after 9pm he had an argument and was informed he would not be served any more alcohol as he was drunk.”
He went back to the house with one of his friends and while she was making tea in the kitchen, Ferrier took his car key from the table in the living room, where it had been left earlier in the night.
His friends thought he had gone to bed, but he had taken the car and was heading in the direction of Arbroath.
John Gibson, his wife and their friend had been at the Cafe Project in Arbroath for the Scottish country dancing and were heading back home around 10pm.
It was wet, cold and dark, but not freezing, on the road that night as the two cars headed towards a collision.
Before leaving Montrose, Ferrier’s driving was causing problems.Too fastMr Scullion said a woman crossing Newbridge was aware of Ferrier’s Astra going too fast and too close to her before overtaking and driving off at speed.
A taxi driver and his fare became aware of Ferrier’s accelerating behind them at a speed estimated at about 60-70mph.
The accident happened moments later and the taxi driver, who was first on the scene, called the emergency services.
Both John Gibson and his wife were pronounced dead after being cut from the wreckage.
Gertrude Massie suffered extensive damage to both legs with plates put in by surgeons to hold broken bones. A plate and wires were also used to hold fractures on her left hand.
Ferrier himself also had to be cut free and when he was transferred to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee the view of medical staff was that he was unlikely to survive.
After a number of operations Ferrier discharged himself from hospital less than six weeks after the accident.
Police accident investigators concluded the cars came together around a third of the way into the Montrose-bound lane. More of the Astra was on the wrong side of the road than was in its own lane.
Despite extensive damage, the speedometer on Mr Gibson’s car still read 47mph. Debris suggested the Astra had been travelling “at a much higher speed,” Mr Scullion said.
A sample of blood taken from Ferrier before his first transfusion gave a reading of not less than 222mgs the legal limit is 80mgs.
Ferrier went to Arbroath police station in April last year but told police he had no recollection of events of that day, leading up to, during or after the collision.
Mrs Massie continues to have difficulty walking but, more importantly, Mr Scullion said, “She can no longer dance, which is something she misses.”
Temporary judge Edward Bowen QC told Ferrier he was required to get background reports and there was little he could say until he had further information and heard from Ferrier’s defence counsel.’Utmost seriousness’However, the judge added, “It will be abundantly obvious to you this is a matter of the utmost seriousness.”
He deferred sentence to November 24 at the High Court in Edinburgh and remanded Ferrier in custody.
Middle son Kenneth Gibson (49), was at court with his brother Malcolm and sister Shiona with Mrs Massie’s son Ewan.
Mr Gibson said his parents and Mrs Massie had been friends for as long as he could remember.
He said, “They went dancing every weekend. Life seemed to revolve round that since they retired.”
His parents had been to Australia on an eight-week journey once they retired, visiting family and had only returned two weeks before they died.
Mr Gibson said when he heard about the accident he was worried his father may have suffered a heart attack and drove up to the scene to see for himself.’Devastation'”There was no way, there was just carnage and devastation. I knew what happened.”
He said it had been almost two years of waiting for Wednesday’s court appearance for the family.
“We’ve wanted to get it over and done with so we can have closure about mum and dad’s life,” he said. “I am happy he pleaded guilty and glad he got locked up. It just makes it safer for everybody else on the roads.”
Gertrude “Gertie” Massie is still suffering the effects of her injuries sustained in the accident two years ago.
Mrs Massie, Christie’s Lane, Montrose, sustained two broken legs and a broken wrist when Ferrier’s black Vauxhall Astra coupe smashed headlong into them as they returned home to Montrose on the A92 after a happy night at a ceilidh in Arbroath.
She underwent major surgery and was in hospital for three months. Mrs Massie still needs a stick to give her confidence when walking any distance and expects to go back into hospital for a new knee.
After a number of operations Ferrier discharged himself from hospital less than six weeks after the accident.
Police accident investigators concluded the cars came together around a third of the way into the Montrose-bound lane. More of the Astra was on the wrong side of the road than was in its own lane.
Despite extensive damage, the speedometer on Mr Gibson’s car still read 47mph. Debris suggested the Astra had been travelling “at a much higher speed,” Mr Scullion said.
A sample of blood taken from Ferrier before his first transfusion gave a reading of not less than 222mgs the legal limit is 80mgs.
Ferrier went to Arbroath police station in April last year but told police he had no recollection of events of that day, leading up to, during or after the collision.
Mrs Massie continues to have difficulty walking but, more importantly, Mr Scullion said, “She can no longer dance, which is something she misses.”
Temporary judge Edward Bowen QC told Ferrier he was required to get background reports and there was little he could say until he had further information and heard from Ferrier’s defence counsel.’Utmost seriousness’However, the judge added, “It will be abundantly obvious to you this is a matter of the utmost seriousness.”
He deferred sentence to November 24 at the High Court in Edinburgh and remanded Ferrier in custody.
Middle son Kenneth Gibson (49), was at court with his brother Malcolm and sister Shiona with Mrs Massie’s son Ewan.
Mr Gibson said his parents and Mrs Massie had been friends for as long as he could remember.
He said, “They went dancing every weekend. Life seemed to revolve round that since they retired.”
His parents had been to Australia on an eight-week journey once they retired, visiting family and had only returned two weeks before they died.
Mr Gibson said when he heard about the accident he was worried his father may have suffered a heart attack and drove up to the scene to see for himself.’Devastation'”There was no way, there was just carnage and devastation. I knew what happened.”
He said it had been almost two years of waiting for Wednesday’s court appearance for the family.
“We’ve wanted to get it over and done with so we can have closure about mum and dad’s life,” he said. “I am happy he pleaded guilty and glad he got locked up. It just makes it safer for everybody else on the roads.”
Gertrude “Gertie” Massie is still suffering the effects of her injuries sustained in the accident two years ago.
Mrs Massie, Christie’s Lane, Montrose, sustained two broken legs and a broken wrist when Ferrier’s black Vauxhall Astra coupe smashed headlong into them as they returned home to Montrose on the A92 after a happy night at a ceilidh in Arbroath.
She underwent major surgery and was in hospital for three months. Mrs Massie still needs a stick to give her confidence when walking any distance and expects to go back into hospital for a new knee.
After a number of operations Ferrier discharged himself from hospital less than six weeks after the accident.
Police accident investigators concluded the cars came together around a third of the way into the Montrose-bound lane. More of the Astra was on the wrong side of the road than was in its own lane.
Despite extensive damage, the speedometer on Mr Gibson’s car still read 47mph. Debris suggested the Astra had been travelling “at a much higher speed,” Mr Scullion said.
A sample of blood taken from Ferrier before his first transfusion gave a reading of not less than 222mgs the legal limit is 80mgs.
Ferrier went to Arbroath police station in April last year but told police he had no recollection of events of that day, leading up to, during or after the collision.
Mrs Massie continues to have difficulty walking but, more importantly, Mr Scullion said, “She can no longer dance, which is something she misses.”
Temporary judge Edward Bowen QC told Ferrier he was required to get background reports and there was little he could say until he had further information and heard from Ferrier’s defence counsel.’Utmost seriousness’However, the judge added, “It will be abundantly obvious to you this is a matter of the utmost seriousness.”
He deferred sentence to November 24 at the High Court in Edinburgh and remanded Ferrier in custody.
Middle son Kenneth Gibson (49), was at court with his brother Malcolm and sister Shiona with Mrs Massie’s son Ewan.
Mr Gibson said his parents and Mrs Massie had been friends for as long as he could remember.
He said, “They went dancing every weekend. Life seemed to revolve round that since they retired.”
His parents had been to Australia on an eight-week journey once they retired, visiting family and had only returned two weeks before they died.
Mr Gibson said when he heard about the accident he was worried his father may have suffered a heart attack and drove up to the scene to see for himself.’Devastation'”There was no way, there was just carnage and devastation. I knew what happened.”
He said it had been almost two years of waiting for Wednesday’s court appearance for the family.
“We’ve wanted to get it over and done with so we can have closure about mum and dad’s life,” he said. “I am happy he pleaded guilty and glad he got locked up. It just makes it safer for everybody else on the roads.”
Gertrude “Gertie” Massie is still suffering the effects of her injuries sustained in the accident two years ago.
Mrs Massie, Christie’s Lane, Montrose, sustained two broken legs and a broken wrist when Ferrier’s black Vauxhall Astra coupe smashed headlong into them as they returned home to Montrose on the A92 after a happy night at a ceilidh in Arbroath.
She underwent major surgery and was in hospital for three months. Mrs Massie still needs a stick to give her confidence when walking any distance and expects to go back into hospital for a new knee.
Mrs Massie said she could remember nothing about the accident that killed her friends.
“I remember coming from the dancing in Arbroath. We weren’t doing much talking because, as usual, John and Isobella had music on.
“The next thing I woke up in Ninewells. I think I must have broken my wrist putting my hand up as the front seats were pushed back. I must also have banged my head.
“I have my own thoughts about John and Isabell. We had been pals for almost 45 years and I miss them.
“I also miss the dancing, but I couldn’t manage to go back. I feel thankful to be here.”
Mr and Mrs Gibson had celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary just before the accident in December, 2008.
Mr Gibson was a retired lorry driver and had been a driver for Taylors Auctions, Montrose, and latterly with a Brechin haulage firm.
Mrs Gibson was a shop assistant with W. H. Smith.
Many of the mourners who packed the Old and St Andrew’s Church for their funeral were dancers whom the couple had known from events up and down the country.
Mrs Massie said she could remember nothing about the accident that killed her friends.
“I remember coming from the dancing in Arbroath. We weren’t doing much talking because, as usual, John and Isobella had music on.
“The next thing I woke up in Ninewells. I think I must have broken my wrist putting my hand up as the front seats were pushed back. I must also have banged my head.
“I have my own thoughts about John and Isabell. We had been pals for almost 45 years and I miss them.
“I also miss the dancing, but I couldn’t manage to go back. I feel thankful to be here.”
Mr and Mrs Gibson had celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary just before the accident in December, 2008.
Mr Gibson was a retired lorry driver and had been a driver for Taylors Auctions, Montrose, and latterly with a Brechin haulage firm.
Mrs Gibson was a shop assistant with W. H. Smith.
Many of the mourners who packed the Old and St Andrew’s Church for their funeral were dancers whom the couple had known from events up and down the country.
Mrs Massie said she could remember nothing about the accident that killed her friends.
“I remember coming from the dancing in Arbroath. We weren’t doing much talking because, as usual, John and Isobella had music on.
“The next thing I woke up in Ninewells. I think I must have broken my wrist putting my hand up as the front seats were pushed back. I must also have banged my head.
“I have my own thoughts about John and Isabell. We had been pals for almost 45 years and I miss them.
“I also miss the dancing, but I couldn’t manage to go back. I feel thankful to be here.”
Mr and Mrs Gibson had celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary just before the accident in December, 2008.
Mr Gibson was a retired lorry driver and had been a driver for Taylors Auctions, Montrose, and latterly with a Brechin haulage firm.
Mrs Gibson was a shop assistant with W. H. Smith.
Many of the mourners who packed the Old and St Andrew’s Church for their funeral were dancers whom the couple had known from events up and down the country.