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Owen Creaney killer admits his guilt in 'last minute turn-around'

Stephen Hughes with his friend Owen Creaney who he admitted killing in a moment of madness
Stephen Hughes with his friend Owen Creaney who he admitted killing in a moment of madness Stephen Hughes with his friend Owen Creaney who he admitted killing in a moment of madness

AN Armagh man convicted of murdering his friend in Craigavon has finally admitted his guilt describing the attack on vulnerable Owen Creaney as “a moment of madness”.

The admission by Stephen Hughes (29) came as a tariff hearing was being held at Belfast Crown Court to determine how long he and co-accused Shaunean Boyle should serve for the murder in July 2014.

This last minute dock-side confession was made on Hughes' behalf by defence QC Peter Irvine who agreed with trial judge Mr Justice Treacy that it seemed "a somewhat remarkable turn around".

Mr Irvine added that it might show a degree of remorse on Hughes' part, even at this late stage, and went on to agree with Mr Justice Treacy that Hughes be sentenced on the basis of the jury's verdict to convict him of the murder.

Mr Irvine said psychiatric and pre-sentence reports mirrored each other. The psychiatric report showed Hughes to be suffering from a severe personality and mood disorder, brought on by alcohol and drug abuse, while in the pre-sentence report Hughes claimed what happened was a "moment of madeness".

Hughes, he added, had reached the stage where he accepted the enormity of what he had done and what flowed from his actions in the subsequent days.

In making the plea, Mr Irvine also agreed with Mr Justice Treacy that this was not the case he had made at his October trial.

Members of the Creaney family leave Laganside Court Picture Mal McCann..
Members of the Creaney family leave Laganside Court Picture Mal McCann.. Members of the Creaney family leave Laganside Court Picture Mal McCann..

However, defence QC John Kearney for 25-year-old Boyle said she should be treated differently to Hughes given that he had lied and perjured himself in evidence to the jury, that it was her, and not he who was the killer.

Mr Kearney said at the time of the brutal attack in Hughes' Moyraverty Court home in Craigavon, Boyle was a vulnerable 21-year-old, and acting under his spell.

She was much younger than Hughes, said Mr Kearney and had "gone off the rails with drink" and had fallen under the influences of Hughes who had "deliberately lied to the jury".

However, while the defence lawyer admitted to Mr Justice Treacy that this "was not the case she made" at her trial, Mr Kearney maintained that she and Hughes could and should be treated differently when coming to sentencing.

Mr Kearney said Boyle, from Edenderry Park in Banbridge, had clearly now expressed remorse and regret for what happened.

Proseuction QC Liam McCollum however, said there should be no difference in dealing with either accused and that a tariff with the higher starting point of at least 16 years should be passed.

The prosecuting lawyer said Mr Creaney was attacked by two people while lying defenceless on the ground and that medical help, which could have been sought was not, and instead he was left to die before being bundled into a wheelie-bin.

In mitigation Mr McCollum accepted that the attack was aimed at causing grievous bodily harm, and not to kill and was not premeditated.

Shaunean Boyle
Shaunean Boyle Shaunean Boyle

During their five week trial the pair admitted being present, but blamed each other for the violence inflicted on Mr Creaney, leaving him with over 60 injuries, including 15 fractured ribs, a broken breastbone as well as bleeding of and tearing to the brain.

Mr Justice Treacy said he wished to review papers and reports in the case and will sentence Hughes and Boyle next Friday.