Courtroom uproar over 'one-punch' killing

By M and M News Services

There was uproar in the public gallery at Belfast Crown Court today (Friday) when relatives of a man punched to death lled outside a Co Antrim nightclub tried to attack his alleged killer.

Senior judge Mr Justice Colton told security staff to "clear the court'' as relatives of James McDonagh hurled a tirade of abuse at the defendant Finbarr McCoy.

Minutes earlier McCoy (25), of Tamlaghduff Road, Bellaghy, Co Derry, appeared in the dock to be arrainged on a single count of manslaughter.

The joiner replied "not guilty'' when the charge of unlawfully killing James McDonagh on January 10, 2016, was put to him by the clerk of the court.

Mr McDonagh (28), from Castledawson, Co Derry, died from head injuries he sustained following a single punch attack outside the Elk Bar in Toome.

Counsel for McCoy, Eilis McDermott QC, told Mr Justice Colton that "some questions arise'' from a preliminary report compiled by a Dr Green who had been retained by the defence to carry out a second post mortem on Mr McDonagh.

She told Mr Justice Colton that she was awaiting Dr Green's final report and asked for a six week adjournment, describing the circumstances of the case as "tragic''.

The judge listed the trial, which is expected to last a week, for November 27 this year. He released McCoy on continuing bail.

As he left the dock and walked into the public gallery to sit with his father, relatives of James McDonagh started shouting abuse at him.

One male had to be physically restrained by a number of females as he tried to lunge towards the defendant.

Security guards rushed into the public gallery and McCoy and his father were ushered into the body of the court to sit beside his legal representatives.

A woman approached the door of the public gallery, put up several pictures of children, and screamed at McCoy: "Babies, young babies. No daddy.''

Mr Justice Colton ordered the courtroom to be cleared and Mr McDonagh's relatives were escorted out of the public gallery still hurling abuse at McCoy.

Once order was restored, Mr Justice Colton returned to the bench to resume his court list.