Great to see those two murdering scumbags convicted yesterday. Interesting criticism of the PPS by Thomas' Mother also, it seems the family's determination to get justice ensured this was brought before the courts as originally the PPS felt they would not get a murder conviction ???
The police never actually classified this killing as sectarian either.
Jim Devlin said on the news last night it was a miracle that it was not three teenagers murdered that night.
http://www.thomasdevlin.com/
Quote from: Doogie Browser on February 25, 2010, 10:56:49 AM
Great to see those two murdering scumbags convicted yesterday. Interesting criticism of the PPS by Thomas' Mother also, it seems the family's determination to get justice ensured this was brought before the courts as originally the PPS felt they would not get a murder conviction ???
The police never actually classified this killing as sectarian either.
Jim Devlin said on the news last night it was a miracle that it was not three teenagers murdered that night.
http://www.thomasdevlin.com/
Agree with all that,I was passing the murder spot this morning and a member of his family was there putting new flowers and a newspaper with the heading "pure evil" on the railings.Terrible death and just great to see some closure for his family
Indeed Doogie - it appears that had she left it solely to the PPS it would never have come to trial, despite one of the convicted pleading guilty to attacking his friend and being at the scene.
The murder scene is just up round the corner from my house and across the road from my chapel - always gives me a chill walking past the poster on the lampost.
His mother lives across the road and two down from my sister's house as well so we've all been following this story very closely. Sister and brother in law always attend the Fund's social dinner each year and say it's a very bizzare night.
Aye was following this case, I had a nasty feeling one of them was going to get off. Hopefully the two c•nts get lenghty tariffs when they are sentenced next week.
It's great that they have been convicted and may bring a little closure for the family. I am not sure there is such a thing as justice if someone takes away your child or a loved one in this way.
Quote from: Rois on February 25, 2010, 11:12:10 AM
Indeed Doogie - it appears that had she left it solely to the PPS it would never have come to trial, despite one of the convicted pleading guilty to attacking his friend and being at the scene.
The murder scene is just up round the corner from my house and across the road from my chapel - always gives me a chill walking past the poster on the lampost.
His mother lives across the road and two down from my sister's house as well so we've all been following this story very closely. Sister and brother in law always attend the Fund's social dinner each year and say it's a very bizzare night.
In what way Rois, if you don't mind me asking?
They say that it's a social event with music and stuff, but the atmosphere was always strange, as if they shouldn't be having a good time because of why the fund was set up in the first place. Usually for fund raising events there would be a focus on celebration and partying, but this one carried a sense of guilt.
Maybe now that there's some closure it will change.
Quote from: Rois on February 25, 2010, 11:25:16 AM
They say that it's a social event with music and stuff, but the atmosphere was always strange, as if they shouldn't be having a good time because of why the fund was set up in the first place. Usually for fund raising events there would be a focus on celebration and partying, but this one carried a sense of guilt.
Maybe now that there's some closure it will change.
is that the function in the golf club after the Thoms Devlin golf day Rois?
It was a case that caught our attention despite the fact we have all unfortunately been socialised to accept horrific murders over here. This one however was particulary chilling given Thomas' obvious disdain towards any concept of sectarianism, his goth lifestyle, his schooling at RBAI etc.
Ah jeez don't know - it was in the Europa for a few years I think. Maybe it's scaled down a bit now? I know my sister never looked forward to it anyway but they and their neighbours all went together.
I think it was in the Europa, the family definitely got great support from the community in North Belfast and further afield.
Quote from: Doogie Browser on February 25, 2010, 11:34:56 AM
I think it was in the Europa, the family definitely got great support from the community in North Belfast and further afield.
They also hold a golf day in my golf club [ which they are members] every year and it is a great success,Good luck to them they deserve a wee bit of peace now but unfortunately they will prob have an appeal to go through.
Quote from: glens abu on February 25, 2010, 11:44:37 AM
Quote from: Doogie Browser on February 25, 2010, 11:34:56 AM
I think it was in the Europa, the family definitely got great support from the community in North Belfast and further afield.
They also hold a golf day in my golf club [ which they are members] every year and it is a great success,Good luck to them they deserve a wee bit of peace now but unfortunately they will prob have an appeal to go through.
I would say so, hopefully that will not be a hassle though as I don't think it took the jury too long to reach a verdict yesterday.
Quote from: Doogie Browser on February 25, 2010, 11:49:05 AM
Quote from: glens abu on February 25, 2010, 11:44:37 AM
Quote from: Doogie Browser on February 25, 2010, 11:34:56 AM
I think it was in the Europa, the family definitely got great support from the community in North Belfast and further afield.
They also hold a golf day in my golf club [ which they are members] every year and it is a great success,Good luck to them they deserve a wee bit of peace now but unfortunately they will prob have an appeal to go through.
I would say so, hopefully that will not be a hassle though as I don't think it took the jury too long to reach a verdict yesterday.
Just over an hour I think.
The jury was allowed to take inference from the two murderers not giving evidence. Although barristers are very clever at tying people in knots, I think if I was innocent I'd run to the witness box to defend myself.
Glad to see the right result in this case for the Devlin family.
Just on the PPS, sometimes someone basically has to die in order for a case to be taken these days, there have been several assualts in the Armagh Area the past few months, all by the same clique, but the PPS has sent letters to all victims to say there is no case to be answered, in one case there was 5-6 witnesses all ready to stand in court, but they were never contacted, yet the conviction was turned down due to lack of evidence. Sorry for hijacking this thread for my rant but I'm just pissed of when it comes to the hoods of our society getting away with seemly anything because of touting etc.
I still think the PSNI is rotten to the core and it will take some sort of undercover jouro to really upend them
Quote from: RealSpiritof98 on February 25, 2010, 12:00:04 PM
Glad to see the right result in this case for the Devlin family.
Just on the PPS, sometimes someone basically has to die in order for a case to be taken these days, there have been several assualts in the Armagh Area the past few months, all by the same clique, but the PPS has sent letters to all victims to say there is no case to be answered, in one case there was 5-6 witnesses all ready to stand in court, but they were never contacted, yet the conviction was turned down due to lack of evidence. Sorry for hijacking this thread for my rant but I'm just pissed of when it comes to the hoods of our society getting away with seemly anything because of touting etc.
I still think the PSNI is rotten to the core and it will take some sort of undercover jouro to really upend them
The family were delighted with the PSNI's input for the conviction, just for the record.
Quote from: Doogie Browser on February 25, 2010, 12:00:46 PM
Quote from: RealSpiritof98 on February 25, 2010, 12:00:04 PM
Glad to see the right result in this case for the Devlin family.
Just on the PPS, sometimes someone basically has to die in order for a case to be taken these days, there have been several assualts in the Armagh Area the past few months, all by the same clique, but the PPS has sent letters to all victims to say there is no case to be answered, in one case there was 5-6 witnesses all ready to stand in court, but they were never contacted, yet the conviction was turned down due to lack of evidence. Sorry for hijacking this thread for my rant but I'm just pissed of when it comes to the hoods of our society getting away with seemly anything because of touting etc.
I still think the PSNI is rotten to the core and it will take some sort of undercover jouro to really upend them
The family were delighted with the PSNI's input for the conviction, just for the record.
I did hear that and I know there has to be some good people involved, but my point is someone has to die, before anything is done, this murder had bid media coverage so the PSNI had to get stuck into the case, but if the same thing happens tonight in Derry but the stab wound is not fatal you will hear nothing about it.
Quote from: RealSpiritof98 on February 25, 2010, 12:06:03 PM
Quote from: Doogie Browser on February 25, 2010, 12:00:46 PM
Quote from: RealSpiritof98 on February 25, 2010, 12:00:04 PM
Glad to see the right result in this case for the Devlin family.
Just on the PPS, sometimes someone basically has to die in order for a case to be taken these days, there have been several assualts in the Armagh Area the past few months, all by the same clique, but the PPS has sent letters to all victims to say there is no case to be answered, in one case there was 5-6 witnesses all ready to stand in court, but they were never contacted, yet the conviction was turned down due to lack of evidence. Sorry for hijacking this thread for my rant but I'm just pissed of when it comes to the hoods of our society getting away with seemly anything because of touting etc.
I still think the PSNI is rotten to the core and it will take some sort of undercover jouro to really upend them
The family were delighted with the PSNI's input for the conviction, just for the record.
I did hear that and I know there has to be some good people involved, but my point is someone has to die, before anything is done, this murder had bid media coverage so the PSNI had to get stuck into the case, but if the same thing happens tonight in Derry but the stab wound is not fatal you will hear nothing about it.
I do agree with you on that in fairness, is devolving of powers going to make it any better?
Though I'm usually near the top of the queue to critcise the PSNI, I think they've sone a good job here. They knew early on who was responsible and they didn't give up till they sent them them to trial albeit despite the PPS.
Quote from: RealSpiritof98 on February 25, 2010, 12:06:03 PM
Quote from: Doogie Browser on February 25, 2010, 12:00:46 PM
Quote from: RealSpiritof98 on February 25, 2010, 12:00:04 PM
Glad to see the right result in this case for the Devlin family.
Just on the PPS, sometimes someone basically has to die in order for a case to be taken these days, there have been several assualts in the Armagh Area the past few months, all by the same clique, but the PPS has sent letters to all victims to say there is no case to be answered, in one case there was 5-6 witnesses all ready to stand in court, but they were never contacted, yet the conviction was turned down due to lack of evidence. Sorry for hijacking this thread for my rant but I'm just pissed of when it comes to the hoods of our society getting away with seemly anything because of touting etc.
I still think the PSNI is rotten to the core and it will take some sort of undercover jouro to really upend them
The family were delighted with the PSNI's input for the conviction, just for the record.
I did hear that and I know there has to be some good people involved, but my point is someone has to die, before anything is done, this murder had bid media coverage so the PSNI had to get stuck into the case, but if the same thing happens tonight in Derry but the stab wound is not fatal you will hear nothing about it.
I think you could replace Derry with Limerick, Monaghan, Dublin, Manchester, Glasgow, New york etc etc etc
I think the PSNI argument is for another day, they were able to secure a conviction. For that I'm sure the Devlin family can take some comfort.
Quote from: Minder on February 25, 2010, 12:47:11 PM
I think the PSNI argument is for another day, they were able to secure a conviction. For that I'm sure the Devlin family can take some comfort.
Well said, no one can come on here and accuse the PSNI of not acting correctly in this case.
Quote from: Doogie Browser on February 25, 2010, 12:48:18 PM
Quote from: Minder on February 25, 2010, 12:47:11 PM
I think the PSNI argument is for another day, they were able to secure a conviction. For that I'm sure the Devlin family can take some comfort.
Well said, no one can come on here and accuse the PSNI of not acting correctly in this case.
Same as that... am no fan of police anywhere but is not black and white. They do get convictions too... paedophiles, murderers etc.
'quelle surprise' the sentencing judge has called it for what it was, a brutal sectarian murder.
I would hate to be in front of this judge anytime, fair play!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8654956.stm
What is "may never be released" for a sectarian murder in NI? 10 years?
Quote from: Tony Baloney on April 30, 2010, 05:54:22 PM
What is "may never be released" for a sectarian murder in NI? 10 years?
Secretary of State's pleasure I assume
Regardless of the tariff it was great to hear the judge's damning verdict on these scumbags today.
Not getting at you doogie, what could the judge have said that we didn't already know?
There are lots of sectarian scumbags in all the paramilitaries
...but in response to the examples of other murder cases where a minimum tariff of 21 and 19 years had been set, Judge McLaughlin said:
"I'm going to be completely blunt about it. We're not even in that territory."
This f***er is looking at a 30 strectch by the looks of it. He is as obnoxious and defiant as ever smirking in the dock and refusing to stand when the judge left court. Can't remember his name. Insigificant piece of sh*t anyway.
Minimum tariffs of 30yrs for Taylor and 22yrs for Brown, hope the family are happy with that.
Spotlight tonight focuses on the case, should be a good show.
Hope the family can get some closure now.