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Concerns raised about elder abuse sentence

Concerns have been raised about the abuse of council chief Anne Donaghy's father
Concerns have been raised about the abuse of council chief Anne Donaghy's father Concerns have been raised about the abuse of council chief Anne Donaghy's father

An organisation set up to protect elderly people has questioned the sentence imposed on a Co Tyrone man convicted of assault and threatening to "put a bullet behind the ear" of his elderly father-in-law in a family feud over property.

James Anthony McBride (52) of Ballybeg Road, Coalisland was convicted last month of assaulting and threatening to kill his late partner's father, Johnny Fee - who is also the father of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council chief executive Anne Donaghy.

McBride was given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years and is subject to a two year restraining order.

McBride, who intends to appeal his sentence, was also ordered to pay £300 compensation.

Action on Elder Abuse Northern Ireland has questioned the sentence and voiced concern over the role of Mr Fee’s relatives in the land row.

Last month a judge at Dungannon Magistrates Court heard the incident was grounded on a family feud over property, and a previous confrontation with the victim’s son and two daughters, including Ms Donaghy, when he claims they recorded him and left him “pressurised, intimidated and bullied”.

Action on Elder Abuse Northern Ireland spokeswoman Veronica Gray said the group was “appalled” at the sentence handed down to McBride.

She claimed the McBride has shown “no remorse” for his actions.

“So why has he been treated so leniently by the courts?” she asked.

Ms Gray added: “Yet again, our legal system has shown that it is unwilling to give appropriate punishments out to those who abuse older people”.

“At Action on Elder Abuse Northern Ireland we want this to change and are campaigning for tougher sentences for crimes like this."

In an email to council members last month Ms Donaghy, who is a former member of the Adult Safeguarding Partnership, which is instrumental in determining a strategy for safeguarding vulnerable adults, said she is “estranged" from her father.

In a statement issued last night Ms Donaghy said: "The allegations made about me and my siblings by my estranged father in court are untrue.

"I am currently taking legal advice in relation to these matters."