"Boy racer" admits causing fatal Ballycastle crash

By Paul Higgins

A so-called 'boy racer' was today warned he faces going to prison after he confessed to causing a three car crash which killed two men outside Ballycastle. 

At Antrim Crown court 22-year-old Shane Kinney pleaded guilty to causing death and grievous bodily injury.

Judge Desmond Marrinan also warned that his parents Sharon and Kevin also "stand at great peril of going to prison" after they admitted to perverting the course of justice. 

Kinney and his parents, all from the Drones Road in Armoy, were scheduled to go on trial today but after several hours of delay, their lawyers asked for some of the charges to be put to them again. 

Leaning in close to the microphone, Shane Kinney pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of Robin Wilson and Johnny Black on the 6th of  April 2015 by driving dangerously on the Cushandall Road in Ballycastle. 

He also entered guilty pleas to causing grievous bodily injury to Clodagh Arbuckle and Denise Dunlop, also by dangerous driving. 

Ms Arbuckle sustained what has previously been described as "permanent, significant brain damage" in the tragic collision. 

Standing alongside him in the dock, his 50-year-old mother Sharon Kinney pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice by removing her sons VW Golf from the Carrickmore Road in the seaside town while his father Kevin (52), admitted the same offence and a further similar count by "obtaining parts for a VW Golf from a breakers yard in Armoy."

The family of Robin Wilson leaving Antrim court.
Mother Patricia Davidson on the left and his father Andy Wilson on the extreme right.

Prosecution QC Ciaran Murphy asked for a further charge that all three conspired to pervert the course of justice to "be left on the books," adding that the pleas "are in satisfaction of the indictment and meet the interests of justice." 

During a bail application for the killer driver, Judge Marrinan commented that rather than a case of deliberate violence, "the intention here was to engage in some form of race as, sadly, some people do, especially young drivers."

The judge said while he was prepared to grant continuing bail to all three, he placed an additional term on Shane Kinney, disqualifying him from driving or using an motorised vehicle on a public road. 

Commending the various defence lawyers for their professional approach to "what would have been a very difficult and painful case" had it ran as a trial, Judge Marrinan said the Kinney's would get some credit for their 11th hour pleas. 

Ordering pre-sentence probation reports, the judge told the defendants their pleas had hopefully life for their victims and their relatives "slightly gentler."

The three-vehicle collision happened on the Cushendall Road at about 3.40am on Easter Monday, 6 April and 

Johnny Black, who was from the nearby Glenshesk area of Ballycastle, died at the scene while Robin Wilson, who was from Armoy, died in hospital.

No facts were opened today (mon) bail but previous courts have heard claims that the two cars at the scene were a Volkswagen Bora which Mr Wilson was in, heading in the direction of Ballycastle and a Peugot containing Mr Black heading in the opposite direction. 

Police investigations however lead them to a VW Golf owned by Kinney after witnesses identified it's registration to officers. 

Kinney handed himself into police two days later and surrendered his car for examination but while no damage was found on it, various parts were later forensically matched to a car held in an Armoy scrap yard. 

A detective described how witnesses had given statements to the effect that his car had been damaged in the impact but he that he fled the scene and his car was collected that evening by his parents. 

Speaking outside the court, Johnny Blacks father Seamus said the family had "got some form of justice today but we have not got Johnny." 

"He was killed on the road two years ago by these people and they have told lies, consistently, consistently told lies about their parts, their friends told lies to cover up but the truth came out today."

"They have wasted court time, public money and everything on lies about the case. 

"We have got some form of justice today but we have not got Johnny. I sat at his funeral but he was my son, he was my friend and he was my business partner. 

"We have got some form of justice but it will not bring him back and they have told nothing but lies and shown themselves to be thieves and liars that's all I want to say."

Speaking on behalf of Robin Wilson's family, Constable Jonathan McKeever, said they were glad to "finally get closure."

"On behalf of the Wilson/Davidson family, they're happy with the result in court today. 

"Sadly they have list their son Robin through this and they just want to express their sadness at what's going on to the Black family and Arbuckle family as well.

"We have finally got closure. Both families have suffered a lot of emotions over the last two years. That are glad that they both got closure."

Sentencing will take place on September the 1st at 2pm.