Minibus driver found not guilty of careless driving causing death

A Ballyshannon minibus bus driver has been found not guilty of causing the death of a Letterkenny mother- of- three Sheena Stewart, by driving without due care and attention in the town on January 1 2015, following a legal submission, at Donegal Town Circuit Court.
55-year-old William McKee, Carricknahorna, Cashelard, Ballyshannon, County Donegal had pleaded not guilty to the charge before a seven man and five woman jury, at Donegal Circuit.
Today, the trial judge John Aylmer ruled that the defendant be acquitted following a legal submission by Defence Counsel Colm Symth, a day and a half into the trial, in the absence of the jury.
When the jury came back, the judge told them that a legal submission arising from the evidence presented by the Prosecution showed that this evidence would be insufficient to uphold a conviction of careless driving.
In this circumstance, he said he was directing the jury to acquit the accused.
The Judge extended his deepest sympathies to the family of Sheena Stewart.