Gormley killers get 27 years but family find little comfort

THE family of murdered teenager Reamonn Gormley said his killer’s life sentence gives them “neither satisfaction nor comfort” as they struggle to come to terms with his death.

Murderer Daryn Maxwell, 23, will serve 19 years in prison, while his accomplice, Barry Smith, 19, who pleaded guilty to culpable homicide, received eight years and three months yesterday.

Mr Gormley, 19, bled to death after being stabbed by Maxwell while walking home with his friend David McFall, after watching a football match at a hotel in his home town of Blantyre in February.

In a statement, his parents, Jim and Ann, and his brother Kieron said: “The trauma and grief that those individuals have put us through cannot be put into words. We have all heard on many occasions from other families in a similar situation that they have been given a life sentence, and you do not fully understand what they felt.

“Ask yourself how would you feel? As far as we are concerned, there will be no parole, no time off for good behaviour, and we will have to deal with this for the rest of our lives.”

Maxwell confronted Mr Gormley and demanded he hand over his wallet and mobile phone, as Smith approached Mr McFall at 11pm on 1 February.

There was a struggle and the former Celtic trainee was stabbed three times. The fatal blow severed his carotid artery.

In the wake of the murder, hundreds of people took part in a peace march to make a stand against knife crime.

Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill and Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland have agreed to meet the family to discuss what is being done to tackle knife crime.

The family described Mr Gormley as an “exceptional young man” who was “an inspiration to others”, in stark contrast to those who took his life.

“We struggle to come to terms with the knowledge that a loving and kind young man… is no longer with us, yet two individuals who have contributed nothing positive to society, but only spread fear and violence, will one day be free to walk our streets again,” they said.

Maxwell and Smith were both former offenders, with previous convictions for violence and carrying an offensive weapon, who were out on bail when they confronted Mr Gormley, a sports science student at Glasgow University, and his friend.

Lady Dorrian, sentencing him at Perth High Court, said Maxwell was a violent, serial offender. “This was a random and unprovoked attack on a member of the public for the purpose of committing robbery,” she said. “Previous convictions show that your lifestyle is one in which violence is habitual. You have been convicted on indictment for assault to severe injury no fewer than three times.”

Turning to Smith, she added: “In your case, you have pled guilty to culpable homicide on the basis that you were part of a pre-arranged plan with the first accused to commit robbery with the use of a lethal weapon.

“The use of the weapon by Maxwell was responsible for the death, but you also share that responsibility, albeit to a lesser degree.”

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman David McLetchie said the family had been “failed by the criminal justice system”.

He added: “The simple fact of the matter is that Reamonn Gormley would be alive today had Daryn Maxwell not been out on bail.

“This sentence closes the case, but it won’t bring back Reamonn Gormley, and our sympathies are with his family.”

Mr MacAskill said: “This is a horrific case, which has saddened and disturbed us all. Both the Lord Advocate and I have indicated to the Gormley family that we would be happy to meet with them, and arrangements are being made to set up a meeting as soon as possible.”

A Scottish Government spokesman added: “Bail is a matter for individual judges. However, the Lord Advocate announced a strengthened policy in relation to knife crime, so that even more offenders face the toughest of sentences.”