21/03/2007

Hammer attack criminal returns to jail

A violent criminal who failed to return to a County Antrim prison has handed himself in to prison officers.

Barry Kevin Donegan Moyna, 22, failed to return to jail last Thursday after compassionate leave to attend his brother’s funeral.

He returned to Maghaberry prison last night at around 8pm.

Moyna was serving an eight year sentence after a vicious assault on a man in the Malone area of south Belfast in March 2003.

Maurice McCracken, 59, was beaten with a hammer as he lay in bed in his home at Strangford Avenue, and suffered permanent brain damage as a result.

Moyna’s brother, Gerard Michael Donegan, was also found guilty of involvement in the attack, and is currently serving a 15-year sentence for attempted murder.

The Northern Ireland Prison Service is understood to be reviewing its policies after the incident.

(JM/KMcA)

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