10/01/2003
Woman found guilty of killing teenager
The woman who knocked down and killed a teenage boy on a bicycle in north Belfast last year has been convicted of manslaughter.
Allison McKeown was found guilty at Belfast Crown Court today of killing 16-year-old Thomas McDonald on the Whitewell Road last September.
The court heard that McKeown, 33, ran the boy down after he threw a brick at her car. He later died from serious head injuries.
McKeown admitted death by dangerous driving but denied murder. She was remanded in custody and a date for sentencing is to be set.
McKeown's lawyers had argued that the mother of six had acted in the heat of the moment and had not intended to seriously injure the boy. In his summing up, Lord Justice McCollum accepted that the intention was not to kill but that McKeown had deliberately run the boy down.
The incident occurred at the height of sectarian tensions surrounding the Holy Cross protests.
(GMcG)
Allison McKeown was found guilty at Belfast Crown Court today of killing 16-year-old Thomas McDonald on the Whitewell Road last September.
The court heard that McKeown, 33, ran the boy down after he threw a brick at her car. He later died from serious head injuries.
McKeown admitted death by dangerous driving but denied murder. She was remanded in custody and a date for sentencing is to be set.
McKeown's lawyers had argued that the mother of six had acted in the heat of the moment and had not intended to seriously injure the boy. In his summing up, Lord Justice McCollum accepted that the intention was not to kill but that McKeown had deliberately run the boy down.
The incident occurred at the height of sectarian tensions surrounding the Holy Cross protests.
(GMcG)
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Mother sentenced to two years for killing teenager
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Woman charged with teenager's murder
A Newtownabbey woman has been remanded in custody charged with the murder of a 16-year-old youth in Belfast on Tuesday. The woman 32-year-old Alison Abigail McKeown, whose address was withheld by order of the court, is accused of murdering Protestant teenager, Thomas McDonald.
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16 March 2011
Booze Ruling Halts Asda's Store Plans
One of the world's largest supermarket groups has abandoned plans to open a second store in the north Belfast area - because it has been refused permission to sell alcohol. Asda has pulled out of plans for a branch at the old Hillview Retail Park on the Crumlin Road because "none of their branches operated without a beer, wine and spirits licence".
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.