Portaferry: man appears in court accused of hit-and-run death of boy on scooter

By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

A man accused of causing the death of a boy in a hit-and-run collision in Co Down told police he had been drinking in two bars before the incident, a court has heard.

Newtownards Magistrates' Court also heard that there is "significant anger" in Portaferry over the collision which killed 12-year-old Lucas Trainor.

Lucas was riding a scooter in the Strand area of the town on Tuesday evening when he was involved in a collision with a red Skoda Fabia. He died later from his injuries.

Peter Andrew Milligan, 51, of Ashmount Park in Portaferry, faced 11 charges when he appeared in the dock of the court on Friday using crutches.

He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving, failing to stop and failing to remain at the scene of an accident and failing to report it.

Milligan also faced charges over driving without insurance and without a licence and of failing to provide a breath sample to police.

He was further charged with failing to stop, failing to remain at the scene and failure to report relating to a second crash which occurred shortly after the collision in which Lucas died.

A defence solicitor told the court: "I have been instructed by Mr Milligan to express his profound remorse and regret to the family of Lucas for the loss of an innocent child."

The lawyer said his client understood the charges.

A PSNI detective constable said he was aware of the fact