Northern Ireland

Michael McIlveen's killer to stand trial for being unlawfully at large

Christopher Kerr was jailed for his killing schoolboy Michael McIlveen
Christopher Kerr was jailed for his killing schoolboy Michael McIlveen Christopher Kerr was jailed for his killing schoolboy Michael McIlveen

SECTARIAN killer Christopher Kerr has been ordered to stand trial accused of being unlawfully at large.

Standing in the dock of Antrim Magistrates Court in a grey tracksuit 32-year-old Kerr, serving a sentence of life imprisonment with a minimum tariff of nine years, was charged with three offences.

Kerr, listed as having an address at Carnduff Drive in Ballymena but who was produced to court from Maghaberry prison, is accused of being at large "without lawful excuse" and two drug offences, all alleged to have been committed on 21 June last year.

The offences arise after Kerr allegedly ran away from prison officers in Victoria Square shopping centre while out on day release.

He was however arrested at Antrim Area Hospital the following day.

His solicitor told the court he was not seeking a release on bail as Kerr “is a sentenced prisoner and that will remain.”

The case was returned to Antrim Crown Court for March 22.

 Michael McIlveen died following an attack in 2006
 Michael McIlveen died following an attack in 2006  Michael McIlveen died following an attack in 2006

Kerr is serving a life term for the sectarian attack which claimed the life of 15-year-old Catholic schoolboy Michael McIlveen.

The teenager was kicked and beaten with a baseball bat in a Ballymena alleyway after being chased by a gang in his hometown in May 2006.

The teenager, known to his friends and family as 'Micky Bo', died later from brain injuries inflicted during the assault.

Kerr was convicted in 2009 following a lengthy trial and he was jailed for a minimum of 13 years.

The Court of Appeal quashed Kerr’s conviction however and ordered a retrial which sat for three days in April 2013 before he admitted his guilt.

The trial judge Mr Justice Weatherup imposed another life sentence and jailed Kerr for a minimum of nine years.