Trio avoid prison after ‘shocking vigilantism’ in Killyleagh violence

Trio avoid prison after ‘shocking vigilantism’ in Killyleagh violence

23 November 2022

THREE men have been handed suspended sentences over what a judge described as “shocking incidents of violence and vigilantism” in Killyleagh almost five years ago.

Lee Jason McCarroll (30), of Straiddorn Green, Comber, Kenneth Raymond Donaldson (46), of Hillsborough Road, Dromara, and Ian Spratt (44), of Castle Street, Comber, were due to go on trial at Downpatrick Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, last week.

But when a new charge of affray was added, McCarroll and Donaldson were re-arraigned and entered guilty pleas, with each receiving two-year suspended sentences.

Spratt was also re-arraigned and pleaded guilty to a new charge of attempted criminal damage. He was handed a nine-month suspended sentence.

All three men were made the subject of two-year restraining orders and warned not to have any direct or indirect contact with their victims.

The charges related to two separate incidents in the early hours of January 14, 2018.

Prosecution barrister Laura Ivers said the first incident happened at around 4.30am when a man’s house in Castleview was attacked by a number of men.

She said the victim called on his neighbour and they armed themselves with golf clubs and were captured on CCTV walking the streets of Killyleagh.

Ms Ivers said those involved in the first incident made calls to a number of individuals who later turned up armed with sticks, baseball bats and a firearm.

The prosecutor told Judge Geoffrey Miller that CCTV captured six men attacking the property at Castleview at 7.20am, smashing windows and doors. A number of shots were fired at the flat.

“Fortunately, no injuries were caused to the injured parties,” Ms Ivers continued.

Police cordoned off the scene and a number of blank ammunition rounds were found in the street.

Ms Ivers said DNA on the rounds were linked to Donaldson, “but the prosecution can’t prove that he fired the weapon”, which has never been recovered.

Asked by Judge Miller what sparked the incident, Ms Ivers said it was believed there had been a fallout between the defendants and a relative of one of the injured parties.

During police interviews, some of the defendants claimed their mobile phones had been lost or damaged, but Ms Ivers said that although this prolonged the 

police investigation, officers were able to place the defendants at the scene through cell site analysis.

She added that the Castleview property belonged to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and damage caused amounted to £1,680.

The court heard McCarroll had a previous conviction for assault occasioning actual bodily harm from 2011.

Passing sentence, Judge Miller said: “This was a shocking incident of violence and vigilantism carried out in Killyleagh.

“The fact that shots were fired at the property caused considerable concern in the neighbourhood. That makes the gravamen this serious case.”

Earlier, three co-accused in the case were found not guilty by direction.

David Robert Fitzpatrick (37), of Kilhorne Green, Annalong, Samuel Alan Gareth Gordon (32), of Glenfield Road, Lurgan, and Daniel Gould (29), of Half Acre Lane, Newtownards, were due to go on trial on a charge of conspiracy to commit common assault.

But after a jury was sworn in the prosecution offered no evidence against them.

Judge Miller directed the jury to formally acquit the defendants. All three were also made the subject of a two-year restraining order.