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Ross McCartney's
Attacker Sentenced
Justice At Last
Most people in Belfast were appalled and angry last year when they heard of
the brutal attack on Ross McCartney who suffers from cerebral palsy. The
attack took place at the East Belfast Castlereagh Road home of the victim, on the 28th
July 2008.
During the attack Ross was beaten with a 4.5kg dumb-bell to the head and
suffered fractures to his check bone, nose, eye socket, as well as
bleeding onto the brain.
The defendant, Alexander David McCarroll, was known to the the victim and
was connected to the crime scene through his footwear marks and blood to his
clothing. The 20 year old defendant Mr. McCarroll was arrested back in 2008
and was known to have a history of violence.
After a successful prosecution, Mr. Alexander David McCarroll who currently
resides at HMP Hydebank, was sentenced to 11 years in prison followed by two
years on probation. In addition he was also sentenced to a concurrent
sentence of 6 months for theft of items from the
victim's home. In sentencing the
defendant His Honour Judge Babington remarked 'This was a brutal and
sustained attack on a vulnerable member of society'.
Ross McCartney, who the judge stated had done well to recover from his
injuries, indicated after the hearing that he was happy with the sentence and
that he intended to get on with his life and make a full recovery and this
site and the decent people of East Belfast, thank God for your recovery and
wish you well.
Last Updated: 23rd May 2009
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