LIFE FOR EVIL MURDERER

Published 19 May 2010 16:45

AN EVIL thug who stabbed a soldier through the heart has been jailed for life.

There were cheers from the gallery in the High Court in Edinburgh last week as Erskine man Barry McGrory, 28 (pictured) was sentenced to at least 20 years in prison for murdering Lochwinnoch soldier Paul McGee, 28.

War hero Paul died in his mother's arms outside the family home after the incident in October last year.

Judge Lord Woolman said: "This was a senseless death caused by the use of a knife.

"This court will not tolerate the use of sharp weapons.

"Your terrible act that night lead to the premature and violent death of Paul McGee.

"He had served his country and was a valuable member of society.

"He was entitled to look forward to the opportunities and experiences of the life that lay before him.

"You took that away from him, his family and his girlfriend, Helen Laycock.

"They speak eloquently of their devastation at his loss."

As they left court, Miss Laycock, 26, who witnessed the fatal stabbing, said: "It has been devastating, this whole event, but at least justice has been done.

"It won't bring Paul back."

McGrory of Park Ridge in Erskine denied delivering the fatal blows and blamed another man, Ian Wallace, for the stabbing.

But a jury rejected his claim and found him guilty of murder.

Wallace, 28, of Ryefield Avenue in Johnstone was cleared when prosecutors dropped the murder charge against him.

He then pleaded guilty to punching taxi driver John Banach and Paul's mum, biting the soldier's girlfriend's mum and fighting and struggling with Paul.

He was jailed for a total of 15 months for his part in the tragic events.

Lord Woolman said: "These were mean and cowardly assaults.

"You pled guilty to assaulting four strangers. The incident erupted out of nowhere."

The two men appeared one after another in the dock for security reasons, because of previous courtroom incidents between them.

The earlier trial heard how Paul, his mum, Anne, 54, girlfriend Helen and her mum, Ann Laycock were on their way home after a charity event.

McGrory became enraged when taxi driver John Banach, flashed his lights, then overtook him.

He and passenger Wallace then chased the taxi until it pulled up in McConnell Road, Lochwinnoch.

Wallace ran over to the taxi and began punching Mr Banach through his open window.

When Paul tried to calm things down Wallace turned on him.

Miss Laycock told how she saw McGrory crouched over her boyfriend as the scuffling men lay exhausted on the ground.

Mrs McGee broke down in tears as she told the jury how her son died in her arms.

She told the court. "He was a son that every mother would be proud to have."

Paul had received the Queen's Commendation for Bravery for his efforts to save the life of fellow-soldier Stephen Ferguson after his armoured vehicle slid into a canal in Iraq.

Guardsman Ferguson later died of his injuries.

The court heard that Wallace had a history of hard-drinking and getting involved in gang fights but had never been to prison before.

McGrory has a record for assault and carrying a knife.

The court heard he had a history of mental problems and addictions to prescribed and illicit drugs.

Lord Woolman told him there was no guarantee he would be freed after 20 years.

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This article appeared in The Gazette 19 May 10

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