A soldier charged with causing the death of a Co. Down man on the A1 by dangerous driving has heard today that he will face Crown Court proceedings.
Donald Hughes, 34, whose address is given as c/o Thiepval Barracks in Lisburn, is alleged to have caused the death of Karl Heaney (pictured) by driving dangerously on the A1 dual carriageway at Drumneth on May 23, 2018.
Co-accused, Shelagh McMahon 33, from Ardcollum Avenue in Dublin, is accused of the same charge.
Mr Heaney had been travelling home from training with Newry Mitchels GAC when he died in a collision between Banbridge and Dromore at around 11.30pm.
Both defendants appeared at Banbridge Magistrates’, sitting at Lisburn on Thursday, for the purposes of a preliminary enquiry (PE), the legal process during which a case is referred to the higher court.
Standing in the dock, the accused made no objection to the holding of the PE.
Prosecution submitted that based on the papers which were before the court there was a case to answer.
Defence counsel made no contrary submissions.
District Judge Nigel Broderick released both defendants on their own bail of £500 to appear at Newry Crown Court on a date to be fixed.
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