Man accused of Portaferry boy’s death is refused bail

Man accused of Portaferry boy’s death is refused bail

16 July 2025

THE funeral has taken place of the 16Portaferry boy, who was killed in a road accident last week.

Twelve year-old Lucas Trainor was riding his scooter when he was struck by a car in the Strand area of the town on Tuesday evening.

His funeral was held on Saturday –  a day after a man appeared in court accused of causing his death by dangerous driving and driving under the influence of drink or drugs.

At the requiem mass in St Patrick’s Church, Ballyphilip, mourners heard Lucas described as a “good natured” boy who was “full of life”.

Friends and family dressed the altar with personal items, including a box containing messages left by friends at his family home over the previous days.

A friend told mourners Lucas was “like a brother to me” and they had “just clicked” after meeting through football.

“I’m going to miss him so much”, he said, describing Lucas as a “great friend to everyone” who was always smiling.

There was applause when he finished by saying he will miss Lucas forever.

Fr John McManus said the funeral was among the saddest in the church’s 163-year history, describing Lucas’ death as an “avoidable accident”.

He said Lucas was a “proud centre half” for Portavogie Youth who should be “playing outside” but instead mourners were gathered at his funeral.

Fr McManus said Lucas was on the “threshold” of adolescence when he died. He had made his first trip to Old Trafford in February was just back from a holiday in Majorca.

Following the mass Lucas was laid to rest in the church cemetery.

On Friday, 51 year-old Peter Milligan, of Ashmount Gardens in Portaferry, appeared at Newtownards Magistrates’ Court charged with a number of offences linked to the fatal accident.

As well as causing death by dangerous driving and driving under the influence of drink or drugs, he was charged with failing to stop where an accident occurred, failing to remain at the scene and failing to report an accident. Other charges include driving without insurance and a licence.

The Trainor family were in court watching proceedings.

A solicitor representing Milligan told the court he would like to “express his profound remorse to the family of Lucas for the loss of their precious child”.

The court heard that Milligan had been drinking in a bar in Strangford before the hit-and-run accident.

A detective constable said that he could connect the accused to the charges. He told the court Milligan was “driving at speed when he collided with the child and made off”.

He said Mr Milligan was “then involved in a second road collision when he collided with a low wall”.

He then abandoned the car and “made off, but was later arrested”, he continued.

Milligan refused a breath test, but a blood test had found that he had been drinking.

Objecting to bail, he detective constable said Milligan was “actively trying to evade police” and there was “significant anger in the local area” after the boy’s death.

He added that Milligan had made a “full admission in police interviews”.

The court was told Milligan has 60 previous convictions, 25 of them for road traffic offences, including two for drink-driving.

Milligan’s solicitor said his client “got into his car to go for a spin” and that he “did not know what he’d hit but panicked and drove on”.

Applying for bail, he said Milligan was the sole carer for his elderly mother, who had dementia.

“This was a very tragic accident,” he continued. ”My client has admitted it, he wouldn’t intimidate witnesses.”

Bail was refused by District Judge Natasha Fitzsimons and Milligan was remanded in custody. He will appear back in court on July 30.