Man admits causing friends death in Ayr flat

Mar 6 2009

A MAN died after his friend set off a firework in the flat where he was sleeping.

Jason McAnally set off the rocket in the early hours of November 9 last year after trying to wake Shaun Keenan up to get him to join a party.

The high court in Edinburgh heard how McAnally appeared “excited” and claimed that Mr Keenan "didn't even flinch" at the time.

However, 40 minutes later, McAnally returned to Mr Keenan's flat in Mill Street, Ayr, and realised it was well alight.

Fire crews found Mr Keenan, a 21-year-old roofer, inside the building and he was pronounced dead a short time later.

McAnally, 22, admitted one charge of culpable homicide when he appeared before judge Lord Uist.

Prosecutor David Young told the court Mr Keenan's death has had a devastating effect on his family.

He lived in Coylton with his mum Eleanor and his brother Mark, 20, until he moved to his own flat just weeks before his death. He had a young child with a former partner.

Lord Uist, who deferred sentencing to the end of this month, told McAnally: “This is a very tragic case in which you have pled guilty to causing the death of a friend through a very foolish act on your part.”