Man charged over hit-and-run death

A man was tonight charged over a hit-and-run in west Belfast which claimed the life of a woman and seriously injured her best friend.

The 51-year-old will appear before Belfast Magistrates Court tomorrow in connection with the incident outside the Whitefort Inn on the Andersonstown Road.

A PSNI spokeswoman confirmed the man has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily injury by dangerous driving.

Anne Marie Dineen, 38, of Southlink, west Belfast died at the scene shortly after she was struck by a car, around 1.30am yesterday.

Her 37-year-old friend was taken to the city’s Royal Victoria Hospital where she is being treated for serious leg and head injuries.

The red Daewoo Lanos, registration VAZ 3845, involved in the incident was recovered in Meadow Place, north Belfast.

Detectives appealed to anyone who saw the car travelling towards the city centre around 1.20am on Saturday to come forward.

They are also particularly keen to speak to taxi drivers who would have been on the Andersonstown Road, between the Andersonstown Leisure Centre and the Kennedy Way roundabout, as the car is believed to have been in the area immediately before and after the collision.