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08/03/2010
John Mongan Killers Sentenced
Three men convicted of killing a prominent member of the travelling community have had heavy sentences handed down.
Mr Justice Treacy fixed the minimum terms that the defendants must serve in full for the murder of John Mongan before they are eligible to be considered for release as 20 years for Christopher Patrick Stokes and 22 years for Edward Gabriel Stokes. Martin Stokes must serve at least 16 years imprisonment.
At Belfast Crown Court, he set the minimum terms of imprisonment to be served by the three men found guilty of the murder of John Mongan.
The court heard that in the early hours of 7 February 2008 the defendants forced their way into the home of Julia and John Mongan in Fallswater Street, Belfast.
They attacked John Mongan in front of his wife who was due to go into hospital that morning to give birth.
John Mongan sustained extensive multiple injuries which resulted in him bleeding to death.
The pathologist told the court that some of the injuries were inflicted with a knife while others may have been caused by a bladed weapon such as a machete, hatchet or axe. As the defendants left the house, Edward Gabriel Stokes attacked Julia Mongan striking her on the head and shoulder. All three were then seen to damage John Mongan's jeep.
Mr Justice Treacy referred to the guidance for judges sentencing persons guilty of murder.
He said the guidance operates to ensure that those persons who are similarly culpable are comparably treated whoever sentences them and wherever they are sentenced.
The guidance includes starting points to be adopted by the sentencing judge and details the aggravating and mitigating factors which relate to either the offence or the offender in a particular case that would make it appropriate for the judge to vary the starting point upwards or downwards.
The judge said that as far as the offence was concerned the aggravating factors were that it was planned and the defendants armed themselves in advance. There were no mitigating factors.
The judge told the defendants: "For whatever reason you took the law into your own hands that night setting out to slay John Mongan.
"In this you succeeded and in so doing robbed Julia Mongan of her husband and their three children of their father.
"You (and perhaps others) may have foolishly thought or been encouraged to think that you were above the law and beyond its reach. But you were not," he concluded.
(BMcC/GK)
Mr Justice Treacy fixed the minimum terms that the defendants must serve in full for the murder of John Mongan before they are eligible to be considered for release as 20 years for Christopher Patrick Stokes and 22 years for Edward Gabriel Stokes. Martin Stokes must serve at least 16 years imprisonment.
At Belfast Crown Court, he set the minimum terms of imprisonment to be served by the three men found guilty of the murder of John Mongan.
The court heard that in the early hours of 7 February 2008 the defendants forced their way into the home of Julia and John Mongan in Fallswater Street, Belfast.
They attacked John Mongan in front of his wife who was due to go into hospital that morning to give birth.
John Mongan sustained extensive multiple injuries which resulted in him bleeding to death.
The pathologist told the court that some of the injuries were inflicted with a knife while others may have been caused by a bladed weapon such as a machete, hatchet or axe. As the defendants left the house, Edward Gabriel Stokes attacked Julia Mongan striking her on the head and shoulder. All three were then seen to damage John Mongan's jeep.
Mr Justice Treacy referred to the guidance for judges sentencing persons guilty of murder.
He said the guidance operates to ensure that those persons who are similarly culpable are comparably treated whoever sentences them and wherever they are sentenced.
The guidance includes starting points to be adopted by the sentencing judge and details the aggravating and mitigating factors which relate to either the offence or the offender in a particular case that would make it appropriate for the judge to vary the starting point upwards or downwards.
The judge said that as far as the offence was concerned the aggravating factors were that it was planned and the defendants armed themselves in advance. There were no mitigating factors.
The judge told the defendants: "For whatever reason you took the law into your own hands that night setting out to slay John Mongan.
"In this you succeeded and in so doing robbed Julia Mongan of her husband and their three children of their father.
"You (and perhaps others) may have foolishly thought or been encouraged to think that you were above the law and beyond its reach. But you were not," he concluded.
(BMcC/GK)
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22 March 2011
Woman Injured In Traveller's Feud
A woman was injured by a bull-hook after being caught in a feud among travellers the High Court heard. Patrick Mongan, 27, of Mill Race, Belfast, allegedly hit her on the back with the handle of the 4ft-long baton. Mr Mongan is charged with possessing ammunition in suspicious circumstances, aggravated assault, and possession of an offensive weapon.
Woman Injured In Traveller's Feud
A woman was injured by a bull-hook after being caught in a feud among travellers the High Court heard. Patrick Mongan, 27, of Mill Race, Belfast, allegedly hit her on the back with the handle of the 4ft-long baton. Mr Mongan is charged with possessing ammunition in suspicious circumstances, aggravated assault, and possession of an offensive weapon.
11 February 2008
Courtroom 'Bottle' Breaks Out Over Mongan Murder
There were unruly scenes in court this morning as three people appeared in court charged with the murder of John Mongan in west Belfast last week. The magistrate threatened to clear the court after some in the public gallery hurled plastic bottles, threatening to turn the normally more sedate surroundings of the courtroom into a 'battleground'.
Courtroom 'Bottle' Breaks Out Over Mongan Murder
There were unruly scenes in court this morning as three people appeared in court charged with the murder of John Mongan in west Belfast last week. The magistrate threatened to clear the court after some in the public gallery hurled plastic bottles, threatening to turn the normally more sedate surroundings of the courtroom into a 'battleground'.
18 November 2024
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Two Arrested After Dangerous Driving Incident In North Belfast Two men have been arrested following a dangerous driving incident in north Belfast in the early hours of Monday, November 18th. The incident began on the Whitewell Road, where a car was observed driving erratically.
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Two Arrested After Dangerous Driving Incident In North Belfast Two men have been arrested following a dangerous driving incident in north Belfast in the early hours of Monday, November 18th. The incident began on the Whitewell Road, where a car was observed driving erratically.
19 April 2012
Man Charged With Mongan Murder
A 22-year-old man has been remanded in custody and charged with the murder of John Mongan in 2008. Thomas Stokes from the Old Fort, Strathfoyle, in Londonderry, was refused bail on the grounds that he could interfere with witnesses.
Man Charged With Mongan Murder
A 22-year-old man has been remanded in custody and charged with the murder of John Mongan in 2008. Thomas Stokes from the Old Fort, Strathfoyle, in Londonderry, was refused bail on the grounds that he could interfere with witnesses.
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