Northern Ireland

Teenage scrambler rider to go on trial accused of causing grievous bodily injury to a man

A TEENAGER is to stand trial accused of causing grievous bodily injury to a man while riding a scrambler motorbike.

Cameron O'Neill (18), of Tobergill Gardens, Antrim, appeared at the town's crown court today to be arraigned on a total of three charges.

He pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily injury to Colin Martin by driving a scrambler motorbike on the Loughanmore Road, Antrim, on January 5, 2018.

O'Neill pleaded guilty to having no insurance and no driving licence on the same date.

Defence barrister Neil Moore told the court that the issue in the case was whether the "driving was dangerous or not''.

He told Judge Melody McReynolds that there was no expert report on the Crown papers in relation to an examination of the scrambler.

Mr Moore said it was unclear whether the scrambler had been examined "or if it still exists'' but the defence would be engaging their own mechanical expert ahead of the trial.

The defence lawyer added that O'Neill "was of the opinion that there was something wrong with the brakes'' on the scrambler and had made that case from the outset.

Judge McReynolds listed the trial for Wednesday, November 27 which is expected to last three days.

With no objections from prosecution barrister Suzanne Gallagher, the judge released O'Neill on continuing bail to await his trial. The case will be reviewed at the end of October.