Rebecca McKeown’s Mother Tells Court Of Her Years Of Hell
The mother of a severely disabled teenager who died after an alleged sexual assault has told a court she has suffered “11 years of living hell”.
Cheryl McKeown was giving evidence for a fourth day at the trial of her parents, David and Sarah Johnston.
The accused, who are 88 and 86 and from Carwood Drive in Glengormley, have denied the manslaughter of Rebecca in March 2001.
They also deny a further charge of child cruelty.
Mrs McKeown also said her late husband Stephen – Rebecca’s stepfather – tried to take his own life five or six times before he killed himself in March 2008.
She told the court that her son Stewart – who was arrested in connection with Rebecca’s death – was an “A* student” before his sister died, but then turned to drugs.
Mrs McKeown said there were arguments and fights between her husband and son as Stewart struggled to cope with his sister’s death and the circumstances of it.
She admitted police had been called to the former family home in the Cloughfern area of Newtownabbey “around a dozen times” due to domestic incidents but said Stewart had never attacked her.
Rebecca, 14, died in hospital five days after she had been looked after by her grandparents.
The teenager used a specially designed wheelchair and could neither walk, talk nor eat for herself. She died after developing pneumonia.
The prosecution alleges this came as a direct result of a sexual assault she suffered at the hands of one or other grandparent.
The case continues.
Same Difference 