Man Jailed For Nine-Floor Balcony Fall Manslaughter

A man who caused an "entirely innocent" teenager to fall nine floors to his death from a Belfast apartment block has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and been jailed for seven years.

Mark Stephen Keenan, from Rosapenna Street, Belfast, was originally charged with the murder of Jamie Murray.

Mr Murray fell after an argument with Keenan on the balcony of the College Central apartment on King's Square in 2009.

Expert evidence referred to in court indicated that Mr Murray tumbled, not that he was pushed.

Belfast Crown Court heard that during a party in the apartment, the teenager became involved in a what was described as a "nasty argument" with 28-year-old Keenan.

Keenan himself was the only person with an account of what happened between the pair on the balcony, the court heard.

But prosecution barrister Terence Mooney QC said Keenan's words were "tainted" by his attempts to protect himself.

He said the prosecution accepted Keenan's guilty plea to manslaughter because there was insufficient evidence to prove a charge of murder.

Mr Murray died on December 5, 2009, and the prosecution said his death had left family and friends "heartbroken".

Keenan’s sentence is to be served half in jail and half on licence, meaning he will get out after three and a half years.

The teenager's parents Jim Murray and Sharon Mitchell released a statement saying that they hoped the sentence would help them come to terms with their loss "in some small way".

(NE)