A million-to-one chance led to the tragic death of a soccer player, Brian Reid, last weekend, a court heard yesterday. The claim was made by a lawyer for Mr Seamus Seaton (17), who is accused of murdering Mr Reid (25), a solicitor, from Cookstown, Co Tyrone.
He was playing as goalkeeper for an amateur league side, Sporting Lisburn Road, when he was fatally injured during a match against Glanville Stars at Mallusk playing fields outside Belfast.
Mr Seaton, Norglen Parade, west Belfast, was remanded in custody on Monday and yesterday the prosecution did not oppose his High Court application for bail.
Lord Justice McCollum said it appeared there was no extreme violence or vicious assault but there had been an utterly tragic consequence. Mr Seaton was freed on his own bail of £500 with a surety of £500 and ordered to report to police once a week.