THE FAMILY of the late Seán Nolan, who was stabbed to death in May 2007, has said there should be no complacency in dealing with knife attacks.
Speaking after the sentencing of Finn Colclough at the Central Criminal Court yesterday, Michael Nolan, father of the victim, said the family did not accept the decision of the jury, which found Colclough guilty of manslaughter last October.
“We believe it was murder,” Mr Nolan said.
“Considering the epidemic of knife crime in this country there should be no complacency in dealing with these attacks. Anyone who produces knives to a situation should be fully held accountable for the consequences of their actions.”
Mr Nolan thanked Mr Justice Paul Carney for his “fair judgment” and also thanked the Director of Public Prosecutions office, the Courts Service and gardaí for their support.
Earlier in court, Charlotte Nolan, mother of Seán, gave a moving victim-impact statement. To a silent gallery that contained many young faces, Mrs Nolan said Seán had been their world.
“Nothing of the goodness of our treasured son Seán was portrayed in these the dispassionate surroundings of the Central Criminal Court,” she said.
She described him as brave, gentle, kind and truthful boy who was loyal and protective of his family.
“Seeing our beautiful son lying dead on a hospital trolley is a memory that will haunt us for the rest of our lives,” she said.
She described the effect his death had on his younger brother and sister Daragh and Róisín.
“When they lost Seán they also lost something of their childhood innocence,” she said.
“They now realise that some nightmares are not imagined and don’t end when they open their eyes.”
Alice Colclough, mother of the accused, also took the stand. She said her son was full of remorse and absolutely devastated by what he had done. She offered her condolences and sympathy to the Nolan family.
“As a mother of two sons, I can’t imagine a worse thing to happen to a family,” she said.
She told the court her son had written a letter to his solicitor days after the incident indicating his remorse and shame.
He had said he wanted the Nolan family to know he was sorry, but was too frightened and ashamed to contact them.
“I never meant to go near Seán,” he said. “I am completely shattered and horrified by his death. I realise my stupidity not only killed Seán, it devastated the lives of his family and friends.”
Puffin Moynihan, a character witness for Colclough, said his behaviour had been completely out of character.
She said she had visited Colclough in Cloverhill Prison and his whole demeanour had changed. He hadn’t had “a day of happiness or peace”, since the incident, she said.
In sentencing, the judge
said he had taken into account the youth, remorse and lack of previous conviction of Colclough as well as the effect of the murder on the Nolan family. He was at pains to point out that the voluntary consumption of drugs and alcohol was no defence and offered no mitigation for the crime.
He said Colclough had equipped himself with knives and had sought a gratuitous confrontation.
“Those who equip themselves with knives frequently end up using them,” he said.
