THREE men are to stand trial in connection with the death of two-year-old Paul Gallagher in the Bahamas six years ago.

Paul, of Repton Road, Orpington, died after being hit by an unmanned, unlicensed and unregistered speedboat, which mounted the beach where he was sleeping in August 2002.

News Shopper launched its Justice For Paul campaign, and last year charges were brought against boat driver James Bain and craft owners Clifford Nottage and Evangeless Williamson.

They are all charged with manslaughter through negligence, while Williamson faces an additional charge of perjury.

After several delays, a trial has finally been set for April 14 in Nassau in the Bahamas.

The toddler's dad, also called Paul, received the news from the Foreign Office over the weekend.

He said: "I didn't think this day would happen. It was a little bit of a shock.

"What they say and what they do in the Bahamas are two different things altogether.

"We are hoping it goes ahead, they pay for us to go there, there's a proper trial, they're found guilty and they get the maximum sentence of five years in jail."

Mr Gallagher and his wife Andrea will be travelling to the Bahamas to give evidence at the trial.

He added: "After so many years of waiting, we finally feel as if justice will be done at last for our son."