Farmer denies allegation of deliberate hit and run on retired firefighter

A witness says the body of a woman who pulled over to save a weak lamb from crows was flung through the air ‘like a ragdoll’ when the farm manager hit her with his car

Hit and run accused Brendan John Jordan with his lawyer Mark Doyle, right, at Launceston Magistrates Court. Picture: PATRICK GEE

A WITNESS says the body of a retired firefighter who pulled over to save a weak lamb from hungry crows was flung through the air ‘like a ragdoll’ when the farm manager hit her with his car.

The alleged victim, Sharon McClay, 51, of Gray, gave evidence in court on March 3, 2020.

She claimed Brendan John Jordan mowed her down with his four-wheel-drive after an altercation when he found her in a paddock at St Marys.

Mr Jordan, 45, from Falmouth, has pleaded not guilty to common assault and failing to stop after being involved in a crash, but admitted to hitting Mrs McClay accidentally.

A hearing was held at Launceston Magistrates Court yesterday before Magistrate Sharon Cure.

Under questioning from Crown prosecutor Emily Radin, Mrs McClay said she decided to enter the paddock because she “was fearful the lamb would have her eyes pecked out while she was alive”.

She told the court Mr Jordan arrived at the paddock, snatched the lamb out of her arms by the scruff of its neck and in doing so, clipped her under the jaw with his right hand.

She said he then launched into a “torrid” rant, saying; “you effing people don’t know what you’re doing. I’ve been a farmer for 30 years” and shook the lamb at her saying; “this is money”.

“I called him a cruel effing bastard,” she said.

The pair left the paddock and returned to their cars.

“Then he made a threat that made me think I need to be able to identify this person,” Mrs McClay said.

She was trying to photograph his registration plates when he drove away, but then turned around and drove back towards her.

“He just kept coming on the verge instead of completing the turn and going onto the asphalt,” Mrs McClay said.

Hit and run accused Brendan John Jordan. Picture: PATRICK GEE

“I was looking at my phone and all of a sudden I had excruciating pain through my left leg and felt momentum and realised it was his car hitting me.”

A sequence of photos tendered as evidence showed the car moving towards her until the phone was knocked from her hands.

Witness Toni Jones told the court of seeing Mrs McClay “go flying” and a white ute speeding off as she drove towards the scene with her family.

“I stopped the car and screamed. It was quite confronting,” Mrs Jones told the court.

“[Her body] was flung like a ragdoll about a metre off the ground.”

Mrs McClay’s leg was broken in three places and she now has a plate and three screws in her ankle.

She had a second surgery to repair damaged tendons in her right hand.

Mr Jordan yesterday told the court that when he first approached Mrs McClay, she was abusive and began swearing at him before he reached her.

“I said I want my lamb back. She proceeded to try and walk around me,” he said.

Mr Jordan said he did hit Mrs McClay with his car, but it was accidental and she had walked in front of him as he pulled out.

“I think she put herself in harm’s way to escalate the issue,” he said.

“She leant over and the corner of my bullbar struck her.”

Mr Jordan told the court he left the scene because he was worried about further confrontation with witnesses who arrived at the scene, but called an ambulance.

Mrs McClay said she had pleaded guilty to a trespassing charge over the incident.

Magistrate Cure will hear closing submissions from council on March 17.