Mother leads march in protest at knife crime

The mother of a young man who was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack led almost 100 people on an anti-knife crime march through their home town yesterday.

Michelle Mathieson and other marchers wore T-shirts bearing a photograph of her son, George, 22, who was killed yards from his home in Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire, last November.

In June, Darren Smith, 20, was jailed for 19 years after being convicted of Mr Mathieson’s murder.

After the trial, it emerged Smith had four previous convictions for knife offences and was on early release from prison at the time he attacked Mr Mathieson.

Yesterday’s march was organised by the Mathieson family, who are calling for tougher sentences for those caught carrying knives, and for those jailed for knife crime to serve their full sentence.

Afterwards, Mrs Mathieson, 40, said the turnout showed the strength of feeling of the local community.

“People have had enough of folk who think it’s OK to go around carrying a knife, and they’re starting to take a stand against it,” she said.

“If he [Smith] had served his whole sentence, George would still be alive. It’s not fair that people who go around carrying knives should get time off their sentences for pleading guilty or for good behaviour when they’re in prison. People have got to realise they have to stop carrying knives. No-one else should have to suffer like we have.”

Labour MSP for Rutherglen, James Kelly, was among those who took part in the walk.

He said: “The community of Cambuslang has rallied around Michelle Mathieson and her family today. This has been a display of solidarity in support of the family and against the evils of knife crime.

“Cambuslang has sent out a strong message that knife crime is unacceptable. It has ruined too many lives.

“As well as supporting the victims of knife crime like the Mathieson family, the clear message from people on the march was that those who are caught carrying a knife should face a prison sentence.”

Also involved was Maureen Douglass, 52, whose son Paul, 20, died after being stabbed in April this year.

In May, she organised a similar event in her home town of East Kilbride, where more than 800 people marched to “call time on knife crime”.