Teen charged with young jogger’s death is named
THE teenager accused of causing the death of a young Co Armagh woman can be identified publicly for the first time.
Nathan Finn is listed on court papers as facing a committal hearing to formally transfer his case for trial.
Finn (18), of Keady Road, Armagh, can be named as he is no longer considered a youth.
He is charged with causing the death of Lesley-Ann McCarragher by dangerous driving on April 9, 2016, at Monaghan Road, Ar- magh. It is further alleged that he caused her death whilst driving without a licence or insurance.
It is contended that Finn was driving a Saab vehicle which he had purchased the previous day, and during the process of an undertaking manoeuvre at speed on the hard shoulder, struck Lesley-Ann while she was jogging. Emergency services rushed her to hospital but she passed away from her injuries. She was 19. Finn, then aged 17, was arrested a few days later and subsequently charged. The law prevents any person under the age of 18 charged with an offence from being identified by media.
However, as Finn turned 18 earlier this year, he is now considered an adult and the legal restriction no longer applies.
If the committal proceedings go ahead as listed, Finn is expected to be returned for trial to crown court.
He had been granted bail after first being charged, but was then remanded in custody at his own request.
However, he was then released on bail in the sum of £200, with strict conditions including no contact with any members of the McCarragher family or any witnesses, and he must sign-in weekly with police. In addition, he is prohibited from driving any vehicle, and is not allowed to travel in any private vehicle unless it is driven by his father, brother or sister.
Finally, Finn is banned from taking any drug unless it is prescribed by a doctor, and is not to enter licensed premises or consume any alcohol at any time.