22-05-2025
Thug who strangled teen for ‘Baldy' insult is back working at King's favourite fish farm
Derek Morrow was jailed for six months after the shocking incident
Derek Morrow was jailed for six months after the shocking incident which took place last March in Glenarm after he'd a skinful in a local pub following a shift at the Glenarm Organic Salmon fishery.
The 14-year-old victim blacked-out after Morrow attacked him after comments were made to him by one of the teenager's friends.
The 41-year-old has a history of violent assaults but was released from prison recently after completing his sentence.
Sources in the Co Antrim fishing village say they were 'surprised' to see him walk straight back into his job at Glenarm Organic Salmon where he has worked for years.
'Morrow is a known thug and what he did was an absolute disgrace,' said the Glenarm resident.
'He's served his time but it's not like it was a first offence – he's lucky he didn't kill that wee lad. It could have been far worse.
'The fishery is highly respected all over the world. Even King Charles eats their salmon so it's a surprise they want anything to do with someone like that.'
Glenarm Organic salmon farm
The Sunday World contacted Glenarm Organic Salmon on email and we spoke to them on the phone but they declined the offer to respond.
According to their website: 'Established in 2008, Glenarm Organic Salmon Ltd remains to this day the only Atlantic salmon farmer in the Irish Sea and the sole producer of the world's finest Organic Salmon.'
Last year Princess Anne was pictured at the fishery during a Royal Visit and in 2018 King Charles met the boss at a function at posh London shop Fortnum and Mason.
Derek Morrow
News in 90 Seconds - May 22nd
Then Prince, it emerged Charles is a big fan of Glenarm smoked salmon which is sold at the famous shop which prides itself on selling high end products.
Accompanying the Prince when he met up with the firm's commercial director in the London store was the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers; the First Minister of Northern Ireland, Arlene Foster; Fortnum & Mason Chairman, Kate Hobhouse and NI Food Ambassador James Nesbitt.
Morrow was amongst the first people in the country to be convicted of non-fatal strangulation after the new offence came into law in July 2023, aimed largely at tackling the scourge of domestic abuse perpetrated by men against women.
Glenarm Organic salmon farm
A judge at Ballymena Magistrates said Morrow, a father of three, had gone on the lash and 'then goes out and strangles a child' and described the assault as a 'very dangerous act'.
Having initially denied charges of non-fatal strangulation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, Morrow, of New Road, Glenarm, finally pleaded guilty just before a contest was due to start.
A prosecutor told Ballymena Magistrates' Court the 14-year-old had been socialising with friends in the Glenarm area when he was approached by Morrow on March 22.
The boy told police that around 10pm one of his friends had called the defendant 'baldy' as he walked down the street.
The prosecutor said Morrow was 'angered by this' and approached and reached out with both hands and grabbed the 14-year-old by the throat preventing him from being able to breathe.
The boy blacked out before regaining consciousness lying in the middle of the road and the defendant was not present.
The boy suffered headaches afterwards and later attended Antrim Area Hospital for 'suspected concussion'.
A defence lawyer said references to court were received from an employer; a community group 'that he works with', and a football team.
The lawyer accepted it was an 'appalling set off facts' and Morrow, who had pleaded guilty, was 'genuinely regretful and extremely remorseful'.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said a 41-year-old man had strangled a 14-year-old child causing him to lose consciousness and asked: 'What on earth is he doing?'
The defence lawyer said the incident was 'entirely out of character'.
