Charges withdrawn in cyclist case

The teenager was knocked off his bike

A man and a schoolboy charged over the death of a teenager in north Belfast have walked free from court after the charges were withdrawn.

Thomas McDonald, 16, died from head injuries after being struck by a car while riding his bicycle near an interface on the Whitewell Road last September.

Patrick Auld, 20, and the 15-year-old schoolboy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been charged with making an untruthful statement to police with intent to pervert the course of justice.

Thomas McDonald: Died in north Belfast

They were passengers in a car which was allegedly driven at the boy.

No reason was given when the charges against them were withdrawn at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

The car driver, Alison McKeown, a 32-year-old mother-of-five who is charged with murder, was further remanded for a week in her absence after the court was told she was unwell.

All three defendants had been out on High Court bail.

An earlier court ruling prohibits the publication of the addresses of Ms McKeown and Mr Auld.