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'Boy racer' who caused death of cousin and another man in three-car crash fails to have sentence reduced

Shane Kinney at an earlier court appearance. Picture Mark Jamieson.
Shane Kinney at an earlier court appearance. Picture Mark Jamieson. Shane Kinney at an earlier court appearance. Picture Mark Jamieson.

A SO-CALLED boy racer who caused the death of his cousin and another man in a three-car crash has failed in a legal bid to have his jail term reduced.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the challenge brought by Shane Kinney over his nine-year sentence - half of which to be spent behind bars - for the fatal collision on the outskirts of Ballycastle, Co Antrim.

Rejecting the challenge, the Lord Chief Justice said the consequences of the 23-year-old's "madness" back in April 2015 had been "horrendous".

But Sir Declan Morgan also stressed all the grief could have been prevented, and called on society to send out a message to those most prone to speeding on the roads.

Kinney, from Drones Road in Armoy, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily injury to two female passengers.

The three-vehicle crash on the Cushendall Road claimed the lives of Kinney's cousin Robin Wilson (26) and another motorist, 19-year-old Johnny Black.

Seven other passengers were also injured.

Kinney admitted he had been racing Mr Wilson before the collision.

Seeking to appeal the sentence imposed, his lawyers argued that attention should be paid to the circumstances when the crash actually occurred.

Ronan Lavery QC contended: "It doesn't look as if he was racing at the time of the collision."

However, Sir Declan, sitting with Lord Justice Stephens and Mr Justice McAlinden, ruled that the facts of the case established the most serious culpability.

Refusing leave to appeal, he described the discount given for Kinney's admissions as "generous"