Weeping youth remanded over woman's death in scrambler bike crash

Valerie Armstrong, 35, was walking her dog in a forest park on the outskirts of Belfast on Tuesday evening when she was knocked down by a bike.

In a hearing at Belfast’s Laganside Courts, a district judge was told the 17-year-old male was “extremely remorseful” about what had happened.

Police said Mrs Armstrong, who was originally from the Irish Republic but lived in Belfast, died in hospital surrounded by her family on Wednesday night.

The teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, appeared before district judge Neil Rafferty charged with causing her death by dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

During questioning by the accused’s lawyer, a police officer told the judge the youth had co-operated fully during interview and had expressed extreme remorse.

The officer also confirmed that the boy had waited with the injured Mrs Armstrong in the period before an ambulance arrived.

The incident happened on a lakeside path in Colin Glen Forest Park in west Belfast at 6pm on Tuesday as many people were out enjoying the good weather in the popular location.

The accused was remanded into custody to appear before court again, via video-link, on August 18.

A 15-year-old boy who was also arrested in connection with the incident was later released on bail pending further police inquiries.