TYRONE manager Mickey Harte has said a young GAA player who shot dead his father will now be able to "reclaim his life" after his sentence was reduced.
He said it was "a relief" for Sean Hackett's family after senior judges ruled that he should serve seven years instead of 10 before being considered for release on licence.
They held that his culpability for killing Aloysius Hackett was not as high as suggested at trial after supporting fresh medical evidence that the 21-year-old is suffering from a delusional disorder.
During Hackett's trial last year, Mr Harte described him as a "young gentleman" and said he had his "eye on him" as a future senior county footballer.
Mr Harte, who visited the former Tyrone minor captain several times in prison, said Hackett should get the help he needs.
"This will certainly be a relief for this young man and for his family. It will offer him every opportunity, I think, to reclaim his life now and you would hope that he will be able to do that now with the proper help that he might get," he told the Irish Independent.
Hackett was challenging the minimum 10-year jail term imposed for the manslaughter of his father Aloysius (60) at the family home near Augher in January 2013.
On Monday the Court of Appeal resisted defence arguments for a hospital order.
However, Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan said the Department of Justice should urgently consider making a prison transfer to ensure Hackett is treated for his condition.
