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Soldier charged with causing death of GAA player Karl Heaney

Karl Heaney, a senior player with Newry Mitchels GAC, died in a car crash on the A1 between Banbridge and Dromore
Karl Heaney, a senior player with Newry Mitchels GAC, died in a car crash on the A1 between Banbridge and Dromore

A soldier has been charged with causing the death of a GAA player by dangerous driving.

Donald Hughes (35), whose address was given as c/o Thiepval Barracks in Lisburn, is alleged to have caused the death of Karl Heaney by driving dangerously on the A1 dual carriageway Drumneth on May 23 2018.

Shelagh McMahon (32), from Ardcollum Avenue in Dublin, is accused of the same charge.

Mr Heaney (27), from Warrenpoint, was travelling home from training with Newry Mitchels GAC when he died in a two-vehicle collision between Banbridge and Dromore at around 11.30pm.

He was driving a silver Ford Fusion car which was in a collision with a black Kia Ceed, driven by Hughes, close to the junction of the Halfway Road while McMahon was behind the wheel of a Kia Rio.

The case against them had been scheduled for a Preliminary Enquiry yesterday at Banbridge Magistrates Court, sitting at Craigavon, but following a prosecution application, “all matters” were adjourned for a month.

District Judge Mark McGarrity relisted the case for June 4.