FAMILY'S ANGER
14
THE IRISH DAILY STAR, Thursday May 18 2017
BULL: Maureen Walsh
No jail for €12K thefts A 57-YEAR-OLD An Post agent cheated old age pensioners out of their pensions “with a cock and bull story” that she had no money for them, a judge said.
Trust
At Kilrush District Court yesterday, Maureen Walsh of the Lighthouse Inn, Kilbaha escaped a jail term after receiving a fourmonth suspended sentence for stealing over €12,000 from five pensioners and An Post. Sentencing the mother of five, Judge Patrick Durcan said Walsh had carried out “a breach of trust on the pensioners”.
FAMILY’S ANGER
Killer took 3 go free after it’s so horrific
VICTIM’S BROTHER DEMANDS 35-YEAR TERM FOR MURDER
A MAN whose sister and two nieces were murdered by crazed killer Brian Hennessy has called for lifers to be given a minimum 35-year sentence.
Distraught John Whelan’s sister Sharon and nieces Zara, aged seven, and two-year-old Nadia were killed on Christmas Day at their home at Roscon, near Windgap, Co Kilkenny, in 2008. Postman Hennessy, who raped and strangled Sharon before setting her house on fire and killing her two kids, was handed down three life sentences — but became eligible for parole last November. John Whelan said a life sentence should really mean life in prison in Ireland. Mr Whelan, who recently founded campaign group SAVE (Sentencing and Victim Equality), said: “Those laws need to be changed. We want life to mean life as a starting point. “We read in the papers and hear on the TV and radio that a perpetrator has been jailed for life and people who are not familiar with the law think that’s great.
ACCUSED: Bennell
Abuse rap for coach FORMER football coach Barry Bennell has appeared in court accused of sexual offences against a boy aged 10. The 63-year-old is alleged to have twice indecently assaulted the boy in the early 1980s.
Assault
The former Crewe Alexandra coach is already awaiting trial having earlier denied 20 child sex offences. A further 21 offences were put to him, including 18 counts of indecent assault against four boys, aged between 10 and 14, between December 1983 and November 1991 in Crewe, Derbyshire “or elsewhere”.
EVIL: Brian Hennessy murdered Sharon Whelan and her two young daughters
It’s grotesque families must go through this – JOHN WHELAN
EXCLUSIVE ■ Laura COLGAN News Reporter Parole Board. In the UK, the tariff system sets out different types of cases and the starting point which would usually be applied. For example, where the murder is committed with a knife or other weapon, the minimum term is 25 years. Mr Whelan said: “If you compare that to Ireland’s situation, a perpetrator, whether he has killed one person or 10 people, can apply for parole after seven years. “It’s very traumatic for families. We have to write to the Parole Board with reasons why he should not be released. It’s grotesque that families have to go through that.
Grief
“It’s constant. Families don’t have time to move on or deal with their grief in a substantial way and the State is getting in the way of that happening.” Trauma Mr Whelan also said his own “In practice, they’re entitled to CALL: John Whelan, family are finding the parole look for their freedom after seven brother of Sharon proceedings very difficult. years which is unbelievable.” He said: “He is up for parole any He added: “A life sentence should mean their whole life. If there is any so-called day now and we’re waiting on word. For somemitigating circumstances, which the only one that took three lives, the idea that he can one should really be an early guilty plea go for parole after seven years is horrific. “Especially for my parents, they have this on that saved the family the trauma of a court case, the judge can use their dis- them and it’s quite possible they could still be cretion to bring it back to 35 years or here when he gets out of jail. “They have no peace of mind and can’t move so. “If someone make s a conscious on. It’s terrible to think the years they have decision to end someone’s life, no left will be dominated by this. “And the State is only adding to it. The State matter what those circumstances are, they should be found guilty of murder adds to people’s trauma.” Brian Hennessy (30) broke into Sharon and those sentences should kick in. “The sentences handed down, not just Whelan’s home on Christmas Eve after a night for homicide but for any violent crime, of heavy drinking and raped and strangled the don’t reflect what is happening in society at mother-of-two. He then set fire to her house in a bid to hide all. We are calling for the British tariff what he had done. system to be adopted here in Ireland.” Ms Whelan’s two daughters were asleep in Under a tariff system, the judge sets the minimum term an offender must serve before their bedroom when he started the fire and they can be considered for release by the died from carbon-monoxide poisoning.
THE IRISH DAILY STAR, Thursday May 18 2017
AT JUSTICE SYSTEM
lives but could 7 years..
FREE
THIS SATURDAY
new look Your Y
MAG
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Ireland’s best known WAG, Claudine Keane Movies: best ever pirate roles on the big screen
PLUS much much more...
BLAZE: Smoke pours from Sharon Whelan’s house
MURDERED: Sharon Whelan (left) and her daughters, Zara, aged seven, and two-year-old Nadia, were killed in their home
Every Saturday in your
BED DEAL OF THE WEEK 4’6 SILENTNIGHT BED
€795!
INCLUDES A miracoil 4 ’6 Silentnig ht double side d mattress Matching h eadboard & 4 drawer base Stunning blu e fabric 5 year warr anty on bed
You’ll get have sweet dreams with this BED DEAL
15
LIMITED STOCK...LIMITED STOCK....LIMITED STOCK...
THE IRISH DAILY STAR, Thursday May 18 2017
BULL: Maureen Walsh
No jail for €12K thefts A 57-YEAR-OLD An Post agent cheated old age pensioners out of their pensions “with a cock and bull story” that she had no money for them, a judge said.
Trust
At Kilrush District Court yesterday, Maureen Walsh of the Lighthouse Inn, Kilbaha escaped a jail term after receiving a fourmonth suspended sentence for stealing over €12,000 from five pensioners and An Post. Sentencing the mother of five, Judge Patrick Durcan said Walsh had carried out “a breach of trust on the pensioners”.
FAMILY’S ANGER
Killer took 3 go free after it’s so horrific
VICTIM’S BROTHER DEMANDS 35-YEAR TERM FOR MURDER
A MAN whose sister and two nieces were murdered by crazed killer Brian Hennessy has called for lifers to be given a minimum 35-year sentence.
Distraught John Whelan’s sister Sharon and nieces Zara, aged seven, and two-year-old Nadia were killed on Christmas Day at their home at Roscon, near Windgap, Co Kilkenny, in 2008. Postman Hennessy, who raped and strangled Sharon before setting her house on fire and killing her two kids, was handed down three life sentences — but became eligible for parole last November. John Whelan said a life sentence should really mean life in prison in Ireland. Mr Whelan, who recently founded campaign group SAVE (Sentencing and Victim Equality), said: “Those laws need to be changed. We want life to mean life as a starting point. “We read in the papers and hear on the TV and radio that a perpetrator has been jailed for life and people who are not familiar with the law think that’s great.
ACCUSED: Bennell
Abuse rap for coach FORMER football coach Barry Bennell has appeared in court accused of sexual offences against a boy aged 10. The 63-year-old is alleged to have twice indecently assaulted the boy in the early 1980s.
Assault
The former Crewe Alexandra coach is already awaiting trial having earlier denied 20 child sex offences. A further 21 offences were put to him, including 18 counts of indecent assault against four boys, aged between 10 and 14, between December 1983 and November 1991 in Crewe, Derbyshire “or elsewhere”.
EVIL: Brian Hennessy murdered Sharon Whelan and her two young daughters
It’s grotesque families must go through this – JOHN WHELAN
EXCLUSIVE ■ Laura COLGAN News Reporter Parole Board. In the UK, the tariff system sets out different types of cases and the starting point which would usually be applied. For example, where the murder is committed with a knife or other weapon, the minimum term is 25 years. Mr Whelan said: “If you compare that to Ireland’s situation, a perpetrator, whether he has killed one person or 10 people, can apply for parole after seven years. “It’s very traumatic for families. We have to write to the Parole Board with reasons why he should not be released. It’s grotesque that families have to go through that.
Grief
“It’s constant. Families don’t have time to move on or deal with their grief in a substantial way and the State is getting in the way of that happening.” Trauma Mr Whelan also said his own “In practice, they’re entitled to CALL: John Whelan, family are finding the parole look for their freedom after seven brother of Sharon proceedings very difficult. years which is unbelievable.” He said: “He is up for parole any He added: “A life sentence should mean their whole life. If there is any so-called day now and we’re waiting on word. For somemitigating circumstances, which the only one that took three lives, the idea that he can one should really be an early guilty plea go for parole after seven years is horrific. “Especially for my parents, they have this on that saved the family the trauma of a court case, the judge can use their dis- them and it’s quite possible they could still be cretion to bring it back to 35 years or here when he gets out of jail. “They have no peace of mind and can’t move so. “If someone make s a conscious on. It’s terrible to think the years they have decision to end someone’s life, no left will be dominated by this. “And the State is only adding to it. The State matter what those circumstances are, they should be found guilty of murder adds to people’s trauma.” Brian Hennessy (30) broke into Sharon and those sentences should kick in. “The sentences handed down, not just Whelan’s home on Christmas Eve after a night for homicide but for any violent crime, of heavy drinking and raped and strangled the don’t reflect what is happening in society at mother-of-two. He then set fire to her house in a bid to hide all. We are calling for the British tariff what he had done. system to be adopted here in Ireland.” Ms Whelan’s two daughters were asleep in Under a tariff system, the judge sets the minimum term an offender must serve before their bedroom when he started the fire and they can be considered for release by the died from carbon-monoxide poisoning.
THE IRISH DAILY STAR, Thursday May 18 2017
AT JUSTICE SYSTEM
lives but could 7 years..
FREE
THIS SATURDAY
new look Your Y
MAG
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Ireland’s best known WAG, Claudine Keane Movies: best ever pirate roles on the big screen
PLUS much much more...
BLAZE: Smoke pours from Sharon Whelan’s house
MURDERED: Sharon Whelan (left) and her daughters, Zara, aged seven, and two-year-old Nadia, were killed in their home
Every Saturday in your
BED DEAL OF THE WEEK 4’6 SILENTNIGHT BED
€795!
INCLUDES A miracoil 4 ’6 Silentnig ht double side d mattress Matching h eadboard & 4 drawer base Stunning blu e fabric 5 year warr anty on bed
You’ll get have sweet dreams with this BED DEAL
15
LIMITED STOCK...LIMITED STOCK....LIMITED STOCK...
