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Five-year jail term for attack on autistic teen

Scott Vineer and his mother Helen-Louise. Picture by Justin Kernoghan, Photopress
Scott Vineer and his mother Helen-Louise. Picture by Justin Kernoghan, Photopress Scott Vineer and his mother Helen-Louise. Picture by Justin Kernoghan, Photopress

A LISBURN man who was part of a three-strong gang who beat an autistic student in a disused warehouse and left him for dead, has been jailed for five years.

Ryan Craig (20) from Ashmount Gardens, was initially charged with attempting to murder Scott Vineer in September 2012.

He denied that charge, but earlier this year he admitted assaulting his victim causing him grievous bodily harm.

On Wednesday Mr Vineer, who attended the hearing at Craigavon Crown Court on crutches, told how still fears his attacker and is "scared about what will happen when he gets out".

Mr Vineer, who has autism, was a 17-year student at the time of the life-altering assault. He was attacked as he made his way home from Lisburn Tech and was beaten so severely that he had to be identified from bracelets he was wearing.

His failure to return home from college on September 6, 2012 sparked a manhunt which resulted in the then teenager being found with serious head and brain injuries in the grounds of the disused World of Furniture store on Laganbank Road.

A previous hearing was told that Craig and two other males who were not before the court led Mr Vineer to the disused warehouse where they beat him.

Craig, who at the time of the attack was a fellow student at Lisburn Tech, then proceeded to batter Mr Vineer as he lay on the ground with a plank of wood.

He then rifled his pockets and threw away his mobile phone.

This action, the prosecution said, "removed Scott Vineer's chance of contact with the outside world."

During Wednesday's sentencing Judge Patrick Lynch QC spoke of the significant impact the attack has had on Mr Vineer, saying that three years after the incident he has "significant ongoing physical limitations."

The judge also spoke of the "profound effect" the attack has had on Mr Vineer's family, particularly his mother who was initially told that her son may not survive.

Craig's barrister Gavan Duffy QC made the case that his client had been remorseful for what he had done.

However, Judge Lynch greeted this with scepticism and said that his criminal behaviour since the attack - which has included a petrol bomb attack on police - would suggest otherwise.

Mr Vineer, who attended the hearing flanked by his mother Helen-Louise Doney and his stepfather, said despite seeing his attacker jailed for five years he was "scared of what will happen when he gets out."

Mr Vineer, who revealed that he cannot remember anything about the brutal assault, said he was "half way between annoyed and relieved" at the sentence.

His mother however, while welcoming the jail sentence said she was disappointed by the length of the prison term after being told he could face a 15 year sentence.

And she also urged the two others believed to be involved in the attack on her son to "do the right thing" and come forward and tell the truth.