MURDER APPEAL: Police renew call for information

Now police have renewed their appeal for information about the murder of the Coleraine teenager who died after he was struck by a train in Portrush on 30 January last year.

The 14-year-old had been at a birthday party in McLaughlin's Bar. During the evening he was assaulted and later chased from the bar towards the railway track where he was hit by a train and died instantly.

Police and Ryan's parents have made a number of appeals since the murder and a file has been sent to the Public Prosecution Service in relation to a 23-year-old man and a 17-year-old youth. A decision on whether to prosecute is expected soon.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Ian Harrison, said: "Despite all our appeals and the obvious anguish being suffered by Ryan's family, we still believe that people with information about what happened that night have yet to come forward. It is hard to understand how they could be so uncaring.

"I want to ask them again to look into their hearts and examine their consciences. A 14-year-old schoolboy lost his life. The family struggles to get through every day without Ryan and with the knowledge that people with information have not come forward.

"We are uncertain about Ryan's movements between 10.40pm that night and just before 11pm when he was hit by the train. It's a short timeframe but it is very important.

"We know there was a sizeable crowd in the bar and that, after some entertainment, a considerable number of people went outside towards the smoking area. We need all those people to come forward. A number of them have but some have not.

"I believe there are still individuals in the community who have significant information about what happened. This appeal includes the earlier assault in the bar and the period between 10.40pm-11pm. Anyone who does come forward will be dealt with sympathetically."

Ryan would have been 16 on Thursday and his family have planned a football match in his memory. Friends and family will take part in a game at the Montra Club in Coleraine this Saturday (June 12).

As well as the football match, there will be a bouncy castle for children and a barbecue.

Ryan's family have produced wristbands entitled 'Justice for Ryan'.

His mother, Lisa Kinnaird, said: "We just wanted to keep Ryan's memory alive in the community and for something positive to come out of his death. The money that we have collected for the wristbands has been used to buy strips for the Mountfern Day Centre football team."

Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at Coleraine police station on 0845 600 8000 or, alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555 111.