A man accused of causing the death of a boy in a hit-and-run collision in Co Down told police he had been drinking in two bars before the incident, a court has heard.
Newtownards Magistrates’ Court also heard that there is “notable anger” in Portaferry over the collision which killed 12-year-old Lucas Trainor.
Lucas was riding a scooter in the Strand area of the town on Tuesday evening when he was involved in a collision with a red Skoda Fabia. He died later from his injuries.
Peter Andrew Milligan (51), of Ashmount Park in Portaferry, faced 11 charges when he appeared in the dock of the court on Friday using crutches.
He was charged with causing death by risky driving, causing death by careless driving, failing to stop and failing to remain at the scene of an accident and failing to report it.Milligan also faced charges over driving without insurance and without a license and of failing to provide a breath sample to police.
Milligan was further charged with failing to stop, failing to remain at the scene and failure to report relating to a second crash which occurred shortly after the collision in which Lucas died.
A defense solicitor told the court: “I have been instructed by Mr Milligan to express his profound remorse and regret to the family of Lucas for the loss of an innocent child.”
The lawyer said his client understood the charges.
A PSNI detective constable said he was aware of the facts and could connect Milligan to them.
Following a defence application for bail, the officer told the court that police had responded to a report of a road collision in the Strand area of Portaferry shortly after 11pm on Tuesday.
They found Lucas with serious injuries. The officer said the boy had later died despite medical intervention.
The officer told the court that witnesses had seen a red Skoda driving at speed, colliding with the boy and then driving off.
He said police then responded to a second report around 15 minutes later where a red Skoda had struck the wall of a property around four miles away.
The detective constable told the court there was damage to the vehicle’s front windscreen consistent with a collision other than that with the wall.
Milligan was the registered owner of the car.
The officer said the defendant was not at home and, following a search, was discovered after 3am less than half a mile from the scene of the abandoned car.
He refused to take part in a breath test and was then taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractzY2VlZmE3NTlhMTZiYzU5ZDVlZjlhZTllM2Q4OGMyNjA3ZiJ9/2-43913166.jpg 1.25x,
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fatal Collision in County Down Results in Boy’s Death
A young boy has tragically died following a hit-and-run incident in County Down, Ireland. The event has prompted a legal response, with concerns raised about the timeline for bringing the case to trial.
Denial of bail and Custodial Remand
During a recent court hearing, the defendant’s legal counsel expressed apprehension that the planning for a Crown court trial could extend for provided that three years. This lengthy timeframe underscores the complexities often involved in investigating and prosecuting such cases.
District Judge Natasha Fitzsimons,after careful consideration,persistent that no combination of bail conditions could adequately mitigate the potential risk of further offenses. Consequently, the bail application was rejected, and the defendant, Milligan, was ordered to be held in custody until a scheduled court date on July 30th.
Rising Concerns Over Road Safety
This incident occurs amidst a broader context of increasing road safety concerns. According to recent data from the Road Safety Authority in Ireland,pedestrian fatalities have seen a 15% increase in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. This tragic event highlights the devastating consequences of reckless driving and the urgent need for continued efforts to improve road user behavior and enforcement of traffic laws.The emotional toll on families and communities impacted by such incidents is immeasurable, and underscores the importance of accountability and justice in these cases.