Father sentenced for taking blame for son's hit and run

The father of a County Antrim gaelic footballer has been given a 100-hour community service order for trying to take the blame for a hit and run road collision his son caused.

Joseph Jude Keenan, 56, from Millfield in Ballymena, had previously admitted the attempted obstruction of police.

The offence relates to a woman being struck by a van on the Glenravel Road in Martinstown on 26 October 2024.

Kavan Keenan, 26, also of Millfield, admitted injuring the woman by careless driving and failing to remain at the scene of an accident. He is due to be sentenced next month.

The prosecution told Ballymena Magistrates' Court how the van left the scene but police enquiries led them to the Keenan family home in Ballymena.

The damaged van was found parked at the back of the house but initially, the elder Keenan told police he had been driving.

However, court heard that following witness descriptions the driver was identified as Kavan Keenan.

Keenan's barrister said this had clearly been "an effort to protect his son, but his son did the right thing and put his hand up."

He added that Joseph Keenan had been sacked from a job as a result of press attention and presently coaches Camogie youth teams.

Imposing the 100-hour community service order, the judge said that "thankfully, the police quickly realised" the defendant was not the driver they were looking for "but nevertheless, the attempt was made and it's a serious matter".