2013: HUSBAND JAILED AFTER CRASHING CAR INTO ESTRANGED WIFE’S HOUSE
The tense event unfolded when Andrew McGarry, fueled by bitterness, drove his car directly into the front of his estranged wife Heather’s residence, seeking to demolish the property and end his own life in the process.During a hearing at Bolton Crown Court, the architect was sentenced to serve eight years behind bars, plus an additional three years on licence for public protection.
It was revealed that McGarry’s intense anger over the dissolution of their six-year marriage motivated him to ensure his wife would not keep their shared home.
He deliberately crashed his family vehicle, a Vauxhall Zafira, into their terraced house on Victoria Road in Horwich at around 7pm on July 24, last year, with his wife and three young children inside.
The collision tore down part of the garden wall and ignited a fire on the living room window.
Thankfully, his children were unharmed, and Mrs McGarry managed to lead them out through the back door.
Judge Timothy Clayson described McGarry as someone with a controlling and rigid nature, evident in his emotional state of frustration and anger over the marriage breakup.
The judge emphasized that the incident caused significant psychological trauma to Mrs McGarry and her son, and warned that McGarry represented a serious danger to the public, especially women.
McGarry, who resides in Harwood, pleaded guilty to arson with intent to endanger life and breaching a non-molestation order.
Evidence showed that he ignited the passenger footwell of his vehicle without verifying whether anyone was inside.
CCTV footage captured the moment he crashed into the house, with images of him emerging from the burning vehicle before returning inside.
His lawyer, Wayne Jackson, stated that McGarry’s actions were an attempt at self-harm by setting himself on fire.
He subsequently exited the car again and was observed walking away peacefully, telling witnesses that he was pleased with the outcome.
The judge interpreted McGarry’s remarks as indicative of his obsession with hurting his ex-wife.
The prosecution revealed that the couple married in 2006, after starting their relationship in 2005, and had three children aged six, four, and two, while McGarry already had two older children from a prior relationship.
Their marriage became violent, leading to a court order in June prohibiting McGarry from contacting Heather.
Despite this, he breached the order in July by driving near her residence and sending a mediator with a letter.
Two weeks later, he deliberately drove into their house, causing damage that required repairs to windows and walls.
It was not established whether he had canceled their house insurance beforehand, which hindered her ability to fully repair the damage.
The defendant’s lawyer attributed McGarry’s aggressive behavior to a childhood brain injury sustained at 16 but noted his ongoing career success and employment during his detention.
An indefinite restraining order has been issued to prevent him from contacting his family or approaching their home, as his wife is now in the process of divorcing him.
