A 16-year-old Tyrone youth accused of murdering his best friend in a weekend shooting was released on bail in the High Court in Belfast yesterday.
A Crown lawyer said the youth, who cannot be named as he is under 17, and the shooting victim, Ronan Hampsey (16), of Coalisland, had been to a dance with friends and had taken ecstasy. At about 2 a.m. they went to the home of the defendant whose parents were away for the weekend. Alcohol was taken and a small amount of cannabis smoked.
"The deceased Ronan Hampsey became boisterous, and the applicant was concerned about damage being caused to the house and also because his sister was asleep upstairs," counsel said.
"Pleas to keep the noise down had no effect, and the applicant said he would get his father's gun.
"He got the gun, loaded it and pointed it at the deceased who said `Shoot me' in a defiant sort of way."
Counsel said the applicant alleged Ronan Hampsey then grabbed the gun and it went off, causing a fatal head injury.
Det Sgt Wenford McDowell said: "Our assessment is that it was boisterous bravado which went tragically wrong."
Mr Justice Kerr said a young man was dead as a result of irresponsible behaviour, but largely on account of what had been said by Det Sgt McDowell he concluded that the case qualified for bail.