Portaferry man refused bail after boy (12) killed in hit-and-run road incident

Portaferry man refused bail after boy (12) killed in hit-and-run road incident

27 August 2025

A PORTAFERRY man accused of causing the death of a 12 year-old boy in a hit-and-run road incident has been refused bail in the High Court.

The court was told last week that 51 year-old Peter Milligan was able to drive for 18 years without a licence.

Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan said she did not understand how anyone could drove for so long without a licence.

Milligan is accused of causing the death of Lucas Trainor, who was riding his scooter when he was struck by a Skoda Fabia car in The Strand area of the town on July 8.

He faces a total of 11 charges, including causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop or remain at an accident, and driving without insurance or a licence.

Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan refused his application for bail, ruling that he posed a high risk of re-offending.

Opposing bail, prosecution counsel Sarah Minford claimed Milligan should have retaken his driving test following a previous ban in 2007.

She said a witness stated he was “bragging” in a bar three days earlier that he hadn’t had a licence for 18 years, yet he continued to drive.

“It seemed to be something he took great pleasure in and was proud of,” Ms Minford told the court. 

Witnesses reported the Skoda Fabia hitting the boy and then leaving the area before the car was found 15 minutes later.

Police located the vehicle after receiving a second report that it had been abandoned after hitting the wall of a property four miles away.

After identifying Milligan as the owner of the car, he was found by officers the following morning, around half a mile from where the vehicle was left.

Milligan refused to take a preliminary breath test before he was taken to hospital for treatment of a fractured foot, the court heard.

Ms Minford said that CCTV shows Milligan downing pints of beer in a bar in the town on the night Lucas was killed.

Footage also showed the Skoda travelling at speed through Portaferry, where another pedestrian was almost hit before the fatal collision.

Ms Minford said Milligan admitted causing the boy’s death by his driving and being under the influence of alcohol.

“He stated he had been drinking in two bars, one in Strangford and one in Portaferry,” Ms Minford continued.   

Milligan claimed a friend gave him a lift home and had checked on his mother before he decided to get in his car to “go for a spin”.

Milligan’s barrister said he had gone out on a drive to clear his head due to the pressures of caring for his mother, who suffers from advanced dementia.

After the fatal collision, he panicked and drove off without knowing what he had hit, according to his account.

The court heard that as police read the charges to Milligan he told them: “I am so sorry for the death of Lucas, please give my condolences to his poor mother and father, I will regret this until the day I die.”

Refusing bail, Dame Siobhan questioned how Milligan avoided sitting a test following his disqualification.

She said: “I do not understand how somebody remains undetected without a licence for 18 years. Does nobody chase that?”

She added: “Given the seriousness of these offences, the applicant’s track record and his own behaviour, I couldn’t be confident he would comply with any conditions I would set.”