Dane McKeever unanimously acquitted

The legal firm representing Dane McKeever, who was was charged with Affray and stood trial all week at Derry Crown Court, has said the Public Prosecution Service should not have directed the prosecution.

Mr McKeever was unanimously acquitted by all 12 Jurors after  only 40 minutes deliberation on Thursday.

In a statement to Derry Now, Madden & Finucane Solicitors said: "Dane McKeever who was charged with Affray  and stood trial all week at Derry Crown Court has been unanimously acquitted by all 12 Jurors after  only 40 minutes deliberation, which results in the PPS being heavily criticised for a Prosecution that  should not have been directed. 

Man charged with affray in Jordan McConomy case found not guilty

"In the autumn of 2017, our client was reported to the PPS. A direction of No Prosecution in  respect of the offences of murder and manslaughter issued on Christmas Eve 2020. The PPS  then reviewed that decision after an appeal from the McConomy Family and a decision was  

then taken to prosecute Mr McKeever for the offence of affray along with 4 other individuals  in respect of the violence in Derry that night. 

"All of those other persons pleaded guilty to various offences including affray and non custodial sentences were handed down by the Crown Court. Two of those convicted were  close associates of the deceased."

Outside Court, Mr McKeever’s solicitor, Ciarán Shiels of Madden & Finucane, said: 

“This was a very sad and sensitive case in which a young man tragically lost his life. Our  client appreciates that Jordan McConomy’s family and friends have suffered a horrendous  loss arising from the events of 24th September 2017.  

“As far back as 2017, when Mr McKeever was in police custody, as 18 year old arrested on  suspicion of murder and affray, he was interviewed on 14 separate occasions answering every  question police put to him, the CCTV confirmed clearly that Mr McKeever was the victim of  a serious physical assault. As conceded by the PSNI and the PPS at court, he was the fourth  individual to be assaulted by the deceased that night. At no time did he punch, kick or  otherwise assault the deceased in any way.  

“As the CCTV clearly disclosed, Dane McKeever was subjected to a serious assault by three  individuals and the first punch eventually thrown by in self-defence was directed at his third  attacker, and that act of self-defence did not come until the deceased had tragically gone to  the ground after he attacked our client.  

“Our client clearly and consistently maintained his innocence in relation to his involvement. 

“Those facts were clearly and unmistakably established beyond doubt before the jury over the  last 4 days. The jury today acquitted Dane McKeever unanimously after just over 40 minutes  deliberation.”