Driver handed suspended sentence after causing death of boy

A man has been handed a suspended sentence after causing the death of 12-year-old Aaron Webb in County Antrim in 2021 by careless driving.

Graeme McGuckin, 35, from Greenvale Manor Mews in Antrim was sentenced to 20 months in prison suspended for two years.

Aaron, was struck by a van on the Lisburn Road in Glenavy on the afternoon of Friday 11 December 2021 and was rushed to hospital but died a short time later.

McGuckin plead guilty to causing Aaron's death, and the court heard that he was using WhatsApp eight seconds before the collision. He had been using Snapchat also.

As well as the suspended sentence, McGuckin was disqualified from driving for 16 months.

McGuckin had taken his hands off the wheel at times and was eating his lunch with a fork and spoon whilst driving.

Aaron's parents, Laura and Brian Webb, described him as a loving, funny and caring son. They said he wanted to be a famous basketball player.

The 12-year-old was also described as a "kind boy who bought his friend school lunch whenever he had forgotten to bring theirs, because that was the type of boy he was".

The court heard that Laura and Brian Webb gave an eloquent and sobering account of the sheer loss and damage that has been done to their family since the death of Aaron.

They said his death has had a devastating impact on their family and their marriage.

Aaron was their only child and they told the court they both felt insurmountable pain at his death.

The court was told that McGuckin was "tormented by the screams" of Aaron's grandmother who came to the scene shortly after the collision.

The judge said he has no doubt he will struggle to rebuild his life, but the fact of the matter was that this was a very bad piece of driving on his behalf.

As the sentence was passed down some of Aaron's family left the court distressed.