News

Teen charged over west Belfast mum's scrambler death named

Gary Lewis from Dunmurry faces two charges of causing death by dangerous driving and using a motor vehicle without insurance for his role in the incident which claimed the life of the Poleglass woman.
Gary Lewis from Dunmurry faces two charges of causing death by dangerous driving and using a motor vehicle without insurance for his role in the incident which claimed the life of the Poleglass woman. Gary Lewis from Dunmurry faces two charges of causing death by dangerous driving and using a motor vehicle without insurance for his role in the incident which claimed the life of the Poleglass woman.

THE identity of a west Belfast teenager charged with causing the death of mother-of-three Valerie Armstrong with a scrambler motorbike can now be revealed.

Gary Lewis, from Colinvale, Poleglass, turned 18 on Saturday and can be named as the person arrested and charged in relation to the fatal collision.

He faces two charges of causing death by dangerous driving and using a motor vehicle without insurance for his role in the crash which claimed the life of the Poleglass mother.

Valerie Armstrong (35) was struck by a scrambler motorbike as she walked her dog in Colin Glen Forest Park on the evening of Tuesday, July 19. She passed away in hospital the following night.

Lewis has been in custody since his arrest and on Wednesday appeared at a youth court sitting in Belfast, where he was remanded into custody at Hydebank Youth Centre to appear again next month.

A 15-year-old boy arrested after the crash was latter released on bail pending further enquiries.

In a previous appearance appearance Lewis broke down in tears as the court heard he waited with an injured Mrs Armstrong until an ambulance arrived.

During the sitting Mr Lewis' solicitor asked the constable whether his client had "co-operated fully with police" and whether during the course of interviews the teenager had been "extremely remorseful". The officer confirmed this was the case.

Mrs Armstrong was originally from Co Westmeath and worked in Cafe Vaudeville on Arthur Street in Belfast city centre.

She was husband to Seamus and mother to three young children; Dylan (10), Lucy (7) and Sophie-Belle (5).

At her funeral service she was described by Fr Pat Sheehan as a "cheerful and positive person, a person of faith and hope".

Gary Lewis will next appear at Belfast Magistrates Court on September 14.