The family of an Irish man stabbed to death in London last December have expressed their disappointment at an 11-year sentence imposed on the teenager who pleaded guilty to his murder.
The 13-year-old boy, who can’t be named for legal reasons, was convicted of the murder of their nephew Christopher John Barry (53), known as Jackie, from Cobh in Co Cork .
Mr Barry's uncle Noel told The Irish Times that the family were disappointed with the sentence handed down by Judge Stephen Kramer at the Old Bailey.
“We don’t think it reflects the seriousness of the crime – this fellow left home that night with a knife and that suggests premeditation.
“This fellow was 13 when he killed Jackie and even if he serves all 11 years, he will still be a young man when he comes out whereas Jackie, you could say, got an eternal sentence.”
Mr Barry said that he would remember his nephew more as a brother as they had grown up together in Cobh.
“Jackie was a very honourable modest man – he always stood by his principles and that was reflected in the manner in which he died – standing up for people,” he said.
A builder, Mr Barry was stabbed after a row with some teenagers outside a flat complex at the Broadway on Edmonton Green in Enfield in North London on December 14th last
Mr Barry was returning home with his girlfriend Sabrina Finn when he tried to stop the youths gaining entrance to the building but two of them followed him in.
The 13-year-old, who had been a gang member since he was 10, followed Mr Barry into the lift, pulled out a kitchen knife from his rucksack and said “What you saying now? What you saying now?” before stabbing him twice.
Ms Finn told in a victim impact statement of how the teenager had robbed her of her partner and what a devastating effect the tragedy has had on her.
“I’m back at work now and although I walk, talk and look the same as I did before, inside I’m tired and my heart is broken”, said Ms Finn.
