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Devlin family praise witnesses
23.12.09
by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent
THE parents of murdered Burnfoot teenager Liam
Devlin have praised the witnesses who gave evidence
that helped convict his killers.
The two men convicted of the murder of the 19 year
old were handed mandatory life sentences at a
sitting of Derry Crown Court, held in Belfast, last
Friday.
Twenty-one year old Sean Cruickshank and Edward
McEleney, 22, will serve at least 11 years each of
their life terms for the murder.
Liam Devlin died on August 4, 2007 shortly after
sustaining head injuries in a violent attack at
Rinmore Drive in Derry City.
In a statement released after last Friday’s
sentencing at Derry Crown Court, Liam Devlin’s
parents Helen and Liam Snr expressed relief that the
trial was over, but noted that its ending had not
given them closure. |
“We are glad that the
trial is now over. We miss Liam terribly and no
matter what happened in court today, it will not
bring Liam back. Our house will never be the same as
it used to be.
“We would like to thank Mr Justice McCloskey, the
jury and the witnesses, who gave evidence which
helped convict the two boys.”
The Burnfoot couple said their son was "a very
bright, happy lad, always laughing".
“Liam would have been friends with everyone. Our
other children, John, Kerry and Alana miss their
brother very much and always talk as if |
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he is still with us.
Liam was very good with them and always helped them
whenever he could.”
Among the many things their son never got the chance
to do was meet his footballing heroes.
“Liam would jump at any chance he could get to
travel with his dad to Glasgow just to see Celtic
play. Liam’s dream was always to meet the Celtic
team, but he never got the chance.”
They added: “We have so many special memories of
Liam and those can never be taken from us.”
Sentencing Cruickshank and McEleney, Mr Justice
McCloskey said the death of Liam Devlin was "an
appalling, eminently avoidable tragedy, the product
of street violence involving mature teenage youths
which has become all too prevalent in contemporary
society". He added that the 19-year-old was
defenceless throughout the attack.
At the end of their trial last October, both
Cruickshank, from Lislane Drive and McEleney, from
Circular Road, were unanimously convicted of murder. |
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