Victim’s father tries to assault accused

Police restrained an angry father today when a woman appeared in court in Belfast charged with the murder of his 16-year-old son.

RUC officers grabbed Sammy McDonald who lunged forward when the woman was in the dock at the city’s magistrates court.

Alison McKeown, aged 32, of Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, was accused of murdering Thomas McDonald.

The 16-year-old boy died after he was knocked off his bicycle by a car in the White City Estate in North Belfast on Tuesday.

A detective told the magistrate John Clery that when charged McKeown made no reply.

With her blonde hair tied back in a ponytail she did not speak and was remanded in custody until October 3.

But just before she left the dock to be taken to the cells, the boy’s father and another man rushed towards the dock with Mr McDonald screaming: ‘‘You murdered my wee lad, you bastard.’’

RUC officers quickly moved in to grab the men who were then ordered to leave the courtroom.

Immediately afterwards two other youths, one a juvenile were charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice by making an untruthful statement to police.

Patrick Michael Auld, 20, from North Belfast and a 15-year-old boy were remanded in custody until October 4.

A detective told the court that both made no reply when charged.

The magistrate imposed an order banning the publication of home addresses of McKeown and Auld. The juvenile cannot be identified for legal reasons.