ONE OF the remaining five young Ballymena men accused of murdering schoolboy Mickey-Bo McIlveen was yesterday cleared of the 15-year-old’s killing.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because he is still a juvenile, was formally found “not guilty by direction” by the jury of eight women and three men at Antrim Crown Court.
Initially yesterday Eilis McDermott, defending, asked that the defendant be rearraigned on a charge of causing criminal damage to a gate which was also attacked on the night Mickey-Bo McIlveen was punched and kicked and hit with a baseball bat.
Following that guilty plea John Orr, prosecuting, told Mr Justice Treacy he had been instructed to accept that plea.
The youth has been released on bail to the end of the trial of the other accused, four of whom still face the charge of murdering the schoolboy who died in hospital from head injuries on May 8th, 2006, the day after he was attacked in an alleyway.
Those still on trial for murder are: Jeff Colin Lewis (19), of Rossdale, Christopher Francis Kerr (22), Carnduff Drive, Aaron Cavana Wallace (20), Moat Road, and Christopher Andrew McLeister (18), Knock Crescent, all Ballymena.
Paul Edward David Henson (18), of Condiere Avenue, Ballymena faces charges of affray and criminal damage. Mervyn Wilson Moon (20), from Douglas Terrace, is awaiting sentence having pleaded guilty to the murder.