TWO men have appeared in court together for the first time on charges relating to the death of Co Armagh teenager Lesley-Anne McCarragher.
Ms McCarragher, who would have been 21 today, was jogging along the Monaghan Road outside Armagh on April 9 last year when she was struck by a car.
She was airlifted to hospital but died of her injuries.
Together in the dock of Armagh Magistrates Court for the first time since a decision was taken to prosecute were Armagh men Nathan Finn (18), of Keady Road, and Damian Paul McCann (30), of Monaghan Road.
McCann had walked into the city's courthouse last week, almost three months after he was first due in court, as a European Arrest Warrant was being finalised by officials in the Republic.
The men are jointly charged with causing Lesley-Anne’s death by dangerous driving and whilst uninsured.
Finn is further accused of causing death whilst having no driving licence.
The pair, separated by custody staff, did not look at each other during the brief hearing.
The case was ready to proceed when a defence barrister for McCann said he was seeking an adjournment.
He said senior counsel has now been instructed and is to consult with his client tomorrow, adding: “Due to this we are not in a position to proceed and I can indicate this is not necessarily going to be a straightforward committal.”
District Judge Paul Copeland said “I am anxious to keep a timetable on this case” and warned that if the case is to proceed by way of preliminary investigation, in which evidence will be challenged, it is to be arranged as soon as possible.
Finn left the dock on continuing bail terms, while McCann was escorted back to custody.
