Justice was not done, says wounding victim

THE victim of a pair of Limeside thugs who were sentenced this week for an unprovoked attack said justice has not been done.

The 36-year-old victim, who does not want to be identified, said harsher sentences should have been imposed on teenagers Mark McNamara (17), of Farm Road, and Jordan Fitzpatrick (18) of Higher Lime Road.

The pair both pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court Crown Square to causing grievous bodily harm and possessing offensive weapons, after attacking the victim with a screwdriver and lock knife.

McNamara was sentenced on Tuesday to a total of 12 months detention and training. He was also given a five-year Asbo, which will ban him from entering Limeside.

Fitzpatrick was sentenced to a total of 51 weeks’ detention, suspended for two years. He has to undertake an 18-month training programme and must do 150 hours’ unpaid work.

However, the victim and his family, said they are the ones who have suffered as they claim to have been forced out of Oldham as a result.

The victim said they were not given the option of preparing a Victim Impact Statement which they believe would have affected the sentence. And he believe the seriousness of the crime, witnessed by his partner’s three-year-old son, should have resulted in a harsher punishment.

The victim, who works as a TV cameraman, said: “They have basically got away with it. It’s not a deterrent for people who carry knives if you are going to get 12 months in a young offender institute.

“McNamara will come out of jail walking around with his badge of honour that is an Asbo. But I now can’t see my mother who still lives in Oldham, or my friends.”

Crying

His partner, on antidepressants following the attack, said: “My mum told me their sentences on Wednesday night and I just couldn’t stop crying, it’s basically nothing.

“Until someone takes matters like this seriously, it will still carry on.

“Cowardly is definitely the right word to use to describe them but justice has not been done.”