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Fury as 'initiation' four freed | Fury as 'initiation' four freed |
(29 minutes later) | |
The parents of a boy who was bound, gagged and attacked by colleagues at work are furious the men are free. | |
The four, from County Londonderry, had been sent to prison but their sentences were quashed on appeal. | |
During the attack, which was filmed on a mobile phone, the 15-year-old was gagged, tied to a chair, assaulted and one man exposed himself. | |
The victim's father said his son was devastated: "He kept asking 'why' this had happened to him." | |
"It's totally destroyed him ever since, two years on, he's still up in his room," he added. | |
During the attack, the men tied the boy to a chair, repeatedly hit him and stuffed paper into his mouth, his father said this aspect was particularly traumatic. | |
"He panicked because of his asthma, he couldn't breathe and thought he was going to die." | |
Appeal court judges overturned the prison sentences imposed on Brian Murphy, 27, and Ronald Burnside, 26, over the assault at a Derry garage in the summer of 2006. | Appeal court judges overturned the prison sentences imposed on Brian Murphy, 27, and Ronald Burnside, 26, over the assault at a Derry garage in the summer of 2006. |
'Despicable' | |
The pair challenged the jail terms a day after their two co-accused, garage boss, Patrick Deery, 39, and Jason Ferguson, 21, won appeals against their prison sentences. | The pair challenged the jail terms a day after their two co-accused, garage boss, Patrick Deery, 39, and Jason Ferguson, 21, won appeals against their prison sentences. |
The Lord Chief Justice described the behaviour of the four men as "despicable", but ruled alternative punishments could be handed down because of their previous good records. | The Lord Chief Justice described the behaviour of the four men as "despicable", but ruled alternative punishments could be handed down because of their previous good records. |
Mr Burnside had been jailed for nine months for false imprisonment and two counts of indecent exposure. | Mr Burnside had been jailed for nine months for false imprisonment and two counts of indecent exposure. |
Instead he was given 150 hours of community service, two years' probation and will have to sign the sex offenders' register. | Instead he was given 150 hours of community service, two years' probation and will have to sign the sex offenders' register. |
Mr Burnside had his original three-month jail sentence for common assault suspended for two years. | Mr Burnside had his original three-month jail sentence for common assault suspended for two years. |
The trial judge said the victim was at a vulnerable stage of adolescence when such an incident could have a "calamitous effect" on his emotional well-being. | |
The judge added that the behaviour of Ronald Burnside in particular was distressing to the victim. | |
"Not only did he expose his private parts, he brought these into contact with the complainant on two separate occasions." | |
"There's nothing remotely funny or humorous about his behaviour." | |
Colm Elliot, of the NSPCC, said it was incomprehensible that four grown men could subject a child to such an attack. | |
"It is very important when young people have the bravery to go through the process of the court, for them it is almost like a second trauma. | |
"If they feel like they haven't got justice it makes it very difficult for people in the future who have been abused to come forward," he said. | |
The victim's father said his son could not comprehend what had happened with the case. | |
"Two weeks ago we told him they'd been sent to jail, then two weeks later they'd been freed - he's angry and distressed." |