Man charged with affray in Jordan McConomy case goes on trial at Derry Crown Court

A man charged with affray on the night that 19-year-old Jordan McConomy died after an incident in Derry City Centre has gone on trial at the local Crown Court.

Dane Barry McKeever (22) of Fahan Street in Derry is charged with one count of fighting and making an affray on September 24, 2017.

At the opening of the trial a prosecution barrister said that the definition of affray was fighting in a public place putting others in terror or fear. 

The prosecutor said that the incident occurred in the early hours of the morning of September 24 2017 in William Street with 'a number of people fighting with each other in the street.' 

The court was told that the incident lasted twenty minute to half an hour and part of it involved Dane McKeever fighting with Jordan McConomy. 

The jury was told that there would be CCTV footage of the incident which would show the two men fighting as well as the testimony of a doorman who was driving home at the time. 

The prosecutor said that the jury would hear about two men 'grappling' and a female was trying to break them up. 

He then added that McConomy then fell to the ground 'struck his head and died.' 

The jury was warned that there was no issue with the death as McKeever was not charged with it. 

The court heard that the defendant was arrested later that day and had injuries to his hand described by a doctor as 'boxer's fracture'. 

Over a period of days McKeever was interviewed and said he had little recollection of events except for throwing McConomy over his shoulder. 

He told police he couldn't remember if he hit McConomy or if McConomy hit him. 

McKeever identified himself on CCTV. 

The first witness, the doorman, described the incident and said it seemed to him that McConomy lost his footing and fell to the ground. 

He became emotional when he described how when he saw McConomy fall he knew 'it was an ambulance' situation and that first aid would not be sufficient. 

The trial continues.