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A FERMANAGH MAN has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years at Dungannon Crown Court today for the manslaughter of a boy at a school in 2015.
Francis McDermott, aged 20, from Camphill Park, Newtownbutler, pleaded guilty in October to the manslaughter of 13-year-old Oisin McGrath, following an incident at St Micheal’s College in Enniskillen on 9 February 2015.
Both McDermott and McGrath were students in the school at the time of the incident.
The court heard younger pupils at the school had been trying to keep a football from older pupils, one of whom was McDermott, BBC News reports.
McDermott had grabbed at the 13-year-old and gave him a “moderate blow behind the left ear, but it burst a vein,” according to the BBC. He died three days after the incident from a head injury.
In a statement released after sentencing today, Oisin’s family said that the 13-year-old was in full health when he died and had no underlying conditions. “He was not struck by a bottle or a ball, Oisín was intentionally struck by Francis McDermott and this action caused his death. If Oisín had not been hit, he would still be here today,” the statement said.
Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Talbot, from PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch, said that while the sentencing brings a close to the police investigation, it doesn’t bring an end to the pain Oisin’s family and friends are suffering.
“They continue to face a life without Oisin and miss him daily as he was their beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin. They will now not see him finish his education or find a career, grow into a young man or know what his future might hold,” Talbot said.
He issued a reminder that “one spur of the moment action”, be it at school or any other setting, can have long-term and devastating consequences for all involved – the victim and also the perpetrator.
“I would urge people to think before they act, as one strike can kill.”
‘Our lives stood still’
Oisín’s family said in their statement that they have been left “with our own life sentence” since his death.
Oisín was an amazing young person with his whole life ahead of him, we will always miss his presence; his voice, his laughter and the pride we felt watching him grow into a wonderful young individual.
It breaks our hearts every minute of every day that we will never see him, hear him, or hug him again.
“On that day in February 2015, Oisin’s life was ended and our lives stood still, shattered forever.
“Oisín paid the ultimate price with his life and we, without him, are left with our own life sentence. No words versed today will bring Oisín back or change the damage caused.
Our battle to deal with our loss has only just begun; it’s a horrific, stomach churning, tearful and emotional place that we never thought we would find ourselves in. We miss Oisín so much and need to try to deal with our loss as best we can, so we would respectfully ask that our family are now left to grieve in peace.
“Oisín will be forever running in our hearts and we will continue to raise awareness of organ donation and brain injury in his memory, as well as continuing with youth sports development in our community; but nothing will ever be the same again.”
Additional reporting by Christine Bohan
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This is a terrible tragedy. Many families torn to pieces, RIP to the deceased.
Just beyond words sad, especially with so many fighting so hard to save lives currently
Rip
Unusual that he was identified so quickly these days
@Maurice Dodd: was a local in a very small rural community where everyone knows everyone locals out driving seen things unfold on the roads. The cops had an elert out to people with his name and not to approach he was dressed like a cop and had a car similar to a cop car so his name was out there while it was happening. Scary stuff
Very sad, RIP.
Thoughts and prayers.
Shocking Sad rip to the victims
If only they had more guns! They could have protected themselves.
@Al Fresco: thats america num pthy
@James Rowan: Canadians own more guns than Americans per captia butt head
@Karllye kripton: fake news from you again..tsk tsk..
@Karllye kripton: thats canada worst mass shooting,they may have more guns than america but when was the last mass shooting in canada,you num pthy
@Karllye kripton: Rubbish.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estimated_number_of_civilian_guns_per_capita_by_country
Think it’s updated to 17 dead now. Very very sad. Shooter owned a local business & properties .
They must need some gun control
@Sean M: I hope that’s sarcasm. It’s rare and tho it’s now 16 dead I believe it’s the worst shooting they’ve had.
@Sean M: considering far less people will die from guns in countries that have gun proper control than in America maybe they should consider it.
@johnny onion eye: officially the worst here in history. You can get guns for hunting here takes a while strict laws and licencing. Rare but it tends to happen in rural areas. He was a denturist well known and respected man. Was very ore meditated who knows if he had a psychotic break of some sort
@Sean M: I think Canadian people take a different attitude to gun legislation compared with their Big Neighbours.
Awful news RIP for all the people who were killed and I hope the injured people will get better . .
Very sad R.I.P. How many of our front line hero’s have been lost or will loose due to the usual stall wort classist decisions being made, no preparation for PPE.. Then bought 1/4 billion worth of feathered turkey from China and 1 in 10 seemingly with covid overall are health care front line people.
@Agenda21: What are you ranting about? That made little to no sense
@ihcalaM: Think he needs to go back to sleep.
@ihcalaM: I know ihcalaW what more can I say?
@Richard: what about yourself, richy need sleep also like amazballs and all that nonchalant nonsense?
@Agenda21: Na I’ve had my four hours I’m good. Is it too early or too late for a beer?
@Richard: ask an alcoholic non passive for that and you know its true
@ihcalaM: who’s social media identity have you hijacked ihcalaW 2 feed neo-liberal capitalists while filling people that don’t agree with you insulted, in the ffg handbooks of ar5e holes seeming
@Agenda21: Dude?
@Agenda21: stoll wort. Jesus.
@Agenda21: absolute clipe
@Richard: never to late or to early to start
@Dan Moran: I agree
He killed a cop, was taken into custody and then later died. Hmmm.
@Sean Fahey: He was shot prior? Not all gunshot wounds kill immediately.
@Sean Fahey: Pretty sure he wasn’t taken into custody, sounds like it all ended near a gas station
@Sean Fahey: Are you trying to divert attention from these horrendous murders of 19 people to the action of the police officers called upon to deal with this nightmare? You seem to have lost all sense of morality. You probably don’t even know how sick this is?
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