Published: Wednesday, 10th June, 2009 2:27pm

MSP BACKS MUM'S PLEA FOR TOUGHER SENTENCES

by Angela Murphy

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A TOP MSP is backing a Johnstone mum"s campaign to get tougher sentences in assault cases.

Hugh Henry has given his support to Morag Collins whose son David was left brain damaged after a brutal and unprovoked attack.

The Gazette reported how the trio of thugs who beat him unconscious and left him unable to carry out basic household tasks are serving a total of just TEN years in prison between them.

The Renfrewshire MSP is taking the case to the Justice Secretary for Scotland, Kenny MacAskill, in the hope of getting tougher sentences for the Johnstone Castle thugs.

Morag said: 'David is doing okay, but we have to take every day as it comes.

'I have had people coming up to me in the street and at the shops saying how shocked they are that the sentences are so short.

'Hugh Henry is sending a copy of The Gazette to Kenny MacAskill and the Lord Advocate to see if we can take the campaign all the way.

'Their justice system is letting down all the innocent victims that are attacked for no reason.

'The criminals know they will be out within a few years so there is no real deterrent.'

A strong letter of support from a woman in Moorpark, Renfrew stated: 'I applaud Mrs Collins for allowing The Gazette to print the photographs of her son and show people the horror these low life cause.

'I wonder if the judge would have been so lenient if it had been a member of their family.

'More pictures of the horror these morons cause should be brought to the public"s attention and make people sit up and take notice - this has got to stop.

'There was a saying "crime doesn"t pay".

'Well, they should change it to "crime for criminals pays, and the innocent folk out there trying to live decent lives are paying for it through the hurt and destruction of their families."

'Something needs to be done - it"s 2009 for goodness sake.'

If you would like to back Morag"s campaign, please email amurphy@cfpress.co.uk.