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Catherine McGinty, 28 Sep
The legal firm representing Dane McKeever, who was was charged with
Affray and stood trial all week at Derry Crown Court, has said the
Public Prosecution Service should not have directed the prosecution.
[INS: :INS]
Mr McKeever was unanimously acquitted by all 12 Jurors after only 40
minutes deliberation on Thursday.
In a statement to Derry Now, Madden & Finucane Solicitors said: "Dane
McKeever who was charged with Affray and stood trial all week at Derry
Crown Court has been unanimously acquitted by all 12 Jurors after only
40 minutes deliberation, which results in the PPS being heavily
criticised for a Prosecution that should not have been directed.
[download-1695902873327.jpg--man_charged_with_affray_in_jordan_mcconomy
_case_found_not_guilty.jpg?1695902873444]
Man charged with affray in Jordan McConomy case found not guilty
"In the autumn of 2017, our client was reported to the PPS. A direction
of No Prosecution in respect of the offences of murder and
manslaughter issued on Christmas Eve 2020. The PPS then reviewed that
decision after an appeal from the McConomy Family and a decision was
then taken to prosecute Mr McKeever for the offence of affray along
with 4 other individuals in respect of the violence in Derry that
night.
"All of those other persons pleaded guilty to various offences
including affray and non custodial sentences were handed down by the
Crown Court. Two of those convicted were close associates of the
deceased."
Outside Court, Mr McKeever’s solicitor, Ciarán Shiels of Madden &
Finucane, said:
“This was a very sad and sensitive case in which a young man tragically
lost his life. Our client appreciates that Jordan McConomy’s family
and friends have suffered a horrendous loss arising from the events of
24th September 2017.
“As far back as 2017, when Mr McKeever was in police custody, as 18
year old arrested on suspicion of murder and affray, he was
interviewed on 14 separate occasions answering every question police
put to him, the CCTV confirmed clearly that Mr McKeever was the victim
of a serious physical assault. As conceded by the PSNI and the PPS at
court, he was the fourth individual to be assaulted by the deceased
that night. At no time did he punch, kick or otherwise assault the
deceased in any way.
“As the CCTV clearly disclosed, Dane McKeever was subjected to a
serious assault by three individuals and the first punch eventually
thrown by in self-defence was directed at his third attacker, and that
act of self-defence did not come until the deceased had tragically gone
to the ground after he attacked our client.
“Our client clearly and consistently maintained his innocence in
relation to his involvement.
“Those facts were clearly and unmistakably established beyond doubt
before the jury over the last 4 days. The jury today acquitted Dane
McKeever unanimously after just over 40 minutes deliberation.”