Jordan McConomy death: Man found not guilty on affray charge

Jordan McConomy, 19, died in the William Street area of Derry in the early hours of 24 September 2017

A man has been found not guilty of affray on the night a Londonderry teenager died after a street fight.

Dane Barry McKeever, 24, of Fahan Street in Derry, had been charged with causing an affray on 24 September 2017.

Jordan McConomy, 19, died following the street fight in the William Street area, near the Bogside.

After a three-day trial at Londonderry Crown Court, the jury reached a unanimous verdict of not guilty after more than 40 minutes of deliberation.

During the trial, the jury had been shown CCTV footage of several incidents which showed Jordan McConomy that evening.

Mr McKeever had maintained throughout the trial that he was unable to recollect much of the incident.

He did recall throwing someone over his shoulder, but said his recollection of the whole night was hazy because he had been out drinking with friends and had also taken ecstasy that night.

Following the verdict, judge Philip Babington said that it was "a particularly sad case" and offered his condolences to the McConomy family.

'Maintained innocence'

Madden and Finucane Solicitors, representing Mr McKeever, said the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) should never have directed that he be prosecuted.

He had first been arrested in 2017 on suspicion of murder and affray and was subsequently interviewed on 14 separate occasions, solicitor Ciaran Shiels said.

"Our client clearly and consistently maintained his innocence in relation to his involvement, " Mr Shiels said.

The facts, he said, have been "clearly and unmistakably established beyond doubt before the jury over the last 4 days".

"Our client appreciates that Jordan McConomy's family and friends have suffered a horrendous loss arising from the events of 24 September 2017," he added.

A PPS spokeswoman said the an initial decision not to prosecute had been taken in 2018.

That decision was reviewed by a senior public prosecutor and in August 2019 it was "determined that the test for prosecution was met," she said.

"As is normal process, the evidence has now been tested in the court process. We respect the jury's verdict, however, we remain satisfied that the test for prosecution was met and that this case was properly brought before the courts," she said.