Student’s killers were both violent offenders on bail

Daryn Maxwell, 23, admitted murdering Reamonn Gormley in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, while his co-accused, Barry Smith, 19, pleaded guilty to culpable homicide.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that both men were out on bail when they killed Mr Gormley – a sports science student at Glasgow University – as he walked home from watching a Celtic v Aberdeen football match at the Parkville Hotel in his home town of Blantyre with a friend, David McFall.

Maxwell had been given interim bail from the High Court after appealing a 32-month sentence for stabbing a man three times and Smith was on bail for alleged assault and robbery and allegedly having a pronged fork in his possession.

Both accused had previous convictions for violence and carrying offensive weapons.

The court heard that as Mr Gormley and his friend walked along Glasgow Road at about 11pm, Maxwell jumped in front of him and demanded his wallet and mobile phone, while Smith approached Mr McFall.

Maxwell was armed with a knife and Smith a chisel. There was a struggle, and Maxwell stabbed Mr Gormley three times. The fatal blow severed his carotid artery and he bled to death.

Smith, who was originally also charged with Mr Gormley’s murder, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of killing him and this was accepted by the Crown.

Advocate depute Alex Prentice, prosecuting, said: “Both accused were unknown to David McFall and the deceased, and it appears this was an entirely random and unprovoked attack on two innocent members of the public.

“The Crown has accepted the pleas on the basis that Smith was knowingly part of an agreed plan to commit a robbery.”

The court heard that seconds after he was stabbed, Mr Gormley ran to a house for help, but there was no-one at home, and he returned to the Parkville Hotel. There, staff and customers took part in a desperate battle to save his life. A woman and a man used their hands to apply pressure to his neck wound in a bid to stem the flow and as they did so Mr Gormley said: “Please don’t let me die.”

Seconds later he slipped into unconsciousness.

In court, Maxwell admitted pointing a knife at Mr Gormley, demanding personal items, struggling with him and killing him by repeatedly striking him on the neck and body with a knife or similar instrument.

Smith admitted culpable homicide.

Last night politicians asked why both men had been free at the time of the killing.

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman John Lamont MSP said: “The fact of the matter is that if Daryn Maxwell was behind bars he would have been unable to commit this brutal murder. Having carried out a similarly ruthless attack before, many people will believe that he should not have been trusted to be let out into society and given the chance to strike again.”

Local MSP and Scottish Labour justice spokesman James Kelly said: “The callous, unprovoked killing of Reamonn Gormley shocked the local community and appalled the country.

“What makes this case even more tragic is that it could have been avoided.

“One of the men who pleaded guilty to his killing had a history of violent crime and at the time of the killing was on bail for stabbing someone.

“People are rightly asking why on earth this violent knife criminal, with a history of breaching bail, was ever granted bail.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Sentencing and decisions over bail are entirely a matter for individual sheriffs and judges based on the evidence before them, not Scottish ministers, and we cannot comment on individual cases.

“Every life lost is one too many and our sympathies go out to any family who has suffered the tragedy of a loved one lost.”

The court heard that the day after the murder, Maxwell confessed what he had done to his mother, Margaret Innes. She and her partner, Derek Kelso, went to the police station that day to report him.

He was arrested on 4 February and Smith the following day.

Mr Prentice added: “Reamonn was only 19 at the time of his death and the impact on his family and on the community have been immense. More than 2,000 people took part in a march through the streets of Blantyre in his memory.”

The court heard Mr Gormley was a gifted young man who had worked with Down’s syndrome children in the Far East through the Good Child Foundation.

The court was told he was involved in football and rugby, raised funds for charity and had intended to visit New Zealand this year.

About 700 people packed into the church for his funeral service, while dozens more lined the streets outside to listen as it was broadcast through speakers. Mourners included Celtic manager Neil Lennon.

Defence QC Ian Duguid, representing Maxwell, said: “This was a street robbery that has gone horribly wrong. Mr Maxwell did not set out to kill anyone that night. He didn’t anticipate there would be a struggle. This was a horrible incident resulting in tragic loss of life.

“The two people the accused approached attended the same high school and supported the same football team, but came from different ends of the social scale.”

Judge Lady Dorrian deferred sentence on both men until next moth for background reports.

Mr Gormley’s family and friends had sobbed as the last minutes of his life were recounted in court, but declined to make any comment as they left.