UTV News - Greysteel killer jailed over assault

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Greysteel killer jailed over assault

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SDLP MLA John Dallat has urged the authorities to permanently revoke Torrens Knight's licence after the loyalist killer was jailed for four months for attacking two sisters in a Coleraine bar.
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The attack on sisters Rosemary Sutherland and Caroline Nicholl was described as "nasty and vicious" at Antrim Magistrates Court, prompting District Judge Austin Kennedy to warn Knight he could expect no sympathy from the courts.

The judge told him: "The injuries sustained were consistent with a vicious attack on the two women and of particular concern in this case is that you kicked Ms Nicholl while she was on the ground, prone and unable to defend herself.

"People who do that can expect no mercy or sympathy from these courts. You acted as a bully when you approached these sisters. You lost control and lashed out."

Knight sat silently in the dock, as Judge Kennedy passed sentence.

His lawyers said he will appeal against his conviction for the two assaults and disorderly behaviour.

Although Knight was granted bail, he was driven back to prison after the hearing because his early release licence has been suspended by the Northern Ireland Office.

"I would sincerely hope that the Sentence Review Board revokes his licence permanently," John Dallat told UTV.

"That's the only sensible decision that can be taken and I'll be writing to the Secretary of State".

The UFF gunman was released in July 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday agreement, whilst serving life sentences for 12 murders.

Eight of his victims were gunned down when killers opened fire on the Rising Sun bar, in the village of Greysteel, near Londonderry, at Halloween 1993.

That same year Knight was part of a gang which murdered four Catholic builders in the seaside town of Castlerock.

After being convicted of the assault on the two sisters five weeks ago, Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward ruled he was in breach of his release conditions and sent him back to prison.

The Life Sentence Review Commissioners will now examine the case to decide if the suspension of the licence was justified and if Knight should serve out the remainder of his murder sentences.

The case is to be mentioned again next Tuesday at a County Court sitting in Coleraine.

© UTV News

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At 14:57 on 08 December 2009, Ricky wrote:
Yea milo you could have a look at the British government for a start ,sending all them men with their guns,tanks,ships & fighter jets over to blow up & terrorise other countries, we all know who the real terrorists are eh pal. .... People need to forget if this man was a loyalists or republican or whatever , the point is he is one bad evil man who needs locked up & the key threw away.. I see the TUV are supporting the release of this man,that is the sickest thing I have ever heard,what is wrong with this party?
At 21:08 on 02 December 2009, MILO wrote:
I agree with Steven- Edinburgh, however do not forget some of the worst terrorist killers on this planet are in the Stormont Executive.
At 18:27 on 02 December 2009, Biggie Mac wrote:
If your a republican and you try and stop a riot = license Revoked. But if your a loyalist and you punch, kick, slap and beat two woman you get 4 months. Welcome To Great Britain.
At 12:47 on 02 December 2009, Steven - Edinburgh wrote:
If a terrorist who was released on license commits any other violent crime they should be made to serve the remainder of their original sentence. Perhaps if we devolve P&J this could be raised as an issue - especially if Alliance hold the post.
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