Latest news with #PaulRowlands
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Indeterminate sentence for man who killed friend near beach
A 42-year-old man has been handed an indeterminate sentence, with a minimum of eight years in jail, for killing his friend in an attack near a beach in Portrush. Jason Murray, with an address at Maghaberry prison, was sentenced in Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday after last week pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Paul Rowlands, 46, in July 2022. Advertisement Murray, who has a history of alcohol problems and mental health issues, pleaded guilty on the grounds of diminished responsibility due to mental abnormality. Passing sentence, Mr Justice O'Hara said the indeterminate sentence would give parole commissioners the responsibility for determining whether Murray was safe to be released after the eight-year tariff elapsed. He warned Murray that if he did not change his ways in custody his time in prison would 'likely far exceed eight years'. Mr Rowlands, who was originally from England, and Murray had become friends while both were sleeping rough in Portrush in 2022. Advertisement The pair become involved in a physical altercation in the Bath Terrace area of the town on July 17th that year. Mr Rowlands was later found unresponsive in the area. He died from a brain haemorrhage caused by blunt trauma. After sentence was passed, PSNI Detective Inspector Claire McGarvey said Mr Rowlands, who was from Cambridge, was 'a much-loved father of five'. Advertisement 'Paul had been on an extended stay in Portrush from the beginning of June 2022, and was planning to return to England at the end of July,' she said. 'Following a report to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, Paul was found injured and unresponsive in the Bath Terrace area of Portrush in the early hours of Monday 18 July in 2022. 'Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. 'Jason Murray was arrested that Monday evening. Advertisement 'Murray later admitted to assaulting Paul during an argument, but maintained he had left him alive and well.' Detective Inspector McGarvey continued: 'We're grateful to those witnesses who came forward to support our investigation. 'A number of witnesses, who saw the two men in and around the area on Sunday 17 July, described both consuming alcohol and arguing. 'Another gave an account of the actual attack, describing how the defendant assaulted the victim while he lay vulnerable on the ground. Advertisement 'Mr Rowlands sustained heavy bruising to his ear and a laceration to the side of his head. 'A post-mortem examination confirmed that, tragically, he died from a brain haemorrhage caused by blunt impact to the head.' She added: 'This was the most senseless and tragic loss of a man's life, in an attack fuelled by alcohol. 'Here, a verbal altercation followed by physical blows has had the most devastating and irreversible of consequences. 'Working with the Public Prosecution Service, the defendant has now been held accountable. 'At the same time, Paul's family have suffered unimaginably and I'm deeply aware that their heartache goes on. 'My thoughts, and that of my team, remain with them.' Mr Rowlands' daughter Leanne Rowlands paid tribute to him in a statement on behalf of the family. 'Dad was at the heart of our big family. 'He was a father, son, brother, uncle and grandfather – and he was loved by us all, more than I can say,' she said. 'He was the most loving son to his mum and dad, June and Tony. 'And, in turn, he was a brilliant dad to me and my four younger siblings, Lucy, Ria, Laura and Ryan. 'Dad was our rock, and his cruel and untimely death has turned our worlds upside down. 'Our lives will never be the same again. 'Paul's granddaughter was just 10 months old when his life was taken, and there's a new grandson in the world now too. 'They'll never have the joy of knowing their grandad and, believe me, he would simply have adored and spoilt them both. 'We remember his warmth and brilliant sense of humour. 'He was quiet to the outside world but, to us, he was great fun. 'He loved Doctor Who and Man United, and we all remember his sweet tooth! 'He always had a little stash of chocolates down the side of the sofa, supposedly just for him but he would always share them with us kids. 'He loved us, his nieces and nephews too, more than anything in the world. 'The last three years have been so hard for us all and, while the sentence has now been passed, I know we have sad days ahead. 'Nothing will bring this gentle soul back. 'My family would like to thank the Police Service for their support right throughout this investigation. 'And we're keen to thank everyone for words and acts of kindness, which have honestly meant so much.'
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Portrush: Jason Murray sentenced for manslaughter of Paul Rowlands
A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to a minimum of eight years for the manslaughter of his friend in County week Jason Murray, with an address at HMP Maghaberry, admitted to unlawfully killing 46-year-old Paul Rowlands in the Bath Terrace area of Portrush on 18 July 2022. The court heard that after Murray attacked Mr Rowlands, he walked to a nearby bar and said: "I kill people now, I'm a hitman."Mr Rowlands was originally from Cambridge, England, but he and Murray were homeless and living in tents on East Strand, in Portrush, at the time. Murray's plea to manslaughter was accepted on the grounds of diminished responsibility due to mental a previous hearing the court was told at 02:15 BST on 18 July 2022, the ambulance service received a report that a man was lying on the ground at Bath Terrace. When emergency services arrived at the scene, Mr Rowlands was found lying on his back between two cars with a puddle of blood by his head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination concluded Mr Rowlands had suffered bleeding to the brain as a result of blunt trauma to his head and neck which caused his death and he had considerable levels of alcohol in his system. The court previously heard that when Murray was arrested by police on 18 July he admitted he had been with Mr Rowlands on 17 July and had been drinking, adding that the pair were having issues. Barrister Sam Magee KC, said Murray told police there had been a fight, that Mr Rowlands had started and involved both men slapping each told police he regarded the fight as a "tiff", the court was told. Mr Magee said Mr Rowlands had travelled from England a month before his death and was unemployed with a history of alcohol and drug misuse. The court was told that Mr Rowlands and Murray had become friends as both were homeless and living in tents and spent their days "drinking, fishing and taking drugs". Mr Magee told the court: "The defendant left the scene, leaving the deceased dying or dead, showing indifference to the fate of the deceased and continuing to drink."Defence barrister Gavan Duffy KC told the court there was "no question" that Murray was "very, very heavily intoxicated" when he arrived at a nearby bar after the defence said Murray "should have remained there and he should have alerted attention to what had occurred and remained to accept responsibility". The court was told Murray experienced a "brutal upbringing" and had a history of mental health issues, including Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Chester man raped woman who fell asleep on his sofa
A man has been found guilty of raping a woman after she fell asleep on his Rowlands, 55, attacked his victim after meeting her at her friend's house in Chester in May the pair went to Rowlands house and fell asleep but the victim woke up to him dragging her on to the floor and he then raped her and assaulted her for an hour during a "sickening" attack, Cheshire Police threatened to kill the woman if she was not quiet, a trial at Chester Crown Court heard. The victim managed to escape to Chester Railway Station, where she told two police officers about the was arrested two days later and told police he could not remember any sexual activity and denied the offences. 'Disoriented' He pleaded not guilty but Cheshire Police said an "overwhelming amount of evidence", including from forensic inquiries, led to his conviction by the jury of rape and assault by of York Street, Chester, has been remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on 24 Sgt Chester Ward said: "Firstly, I would like to commend the victim for the courage and bravery that she has shown throughout this investigation."Rowlands is a sexual predator who took advantage of the victim while she was in a vulnerable and disoriented state, and what he subjected her to was nothing short of sickening." Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- BBC News
Portrush: Man pleads guilty to manslaughter of Paul Rowlands
A 42-year-old man has admitted the manslaughter of his friend in County Murray, with an address at HMP Maghaberry, admitted to unlawfully killing 46-year-old Paul Rowlands in the Bath Terrace area of Portrush on 18 July 2022. He appeared at Belfast Crown Court on Friday and the court heard that after Murray attacked Mr Rowlands, he walked to a nearby bar and said: "I kill people now, I'm a hitman". Mr Rowlands was originally from Cambridge, England but he and Murray were homeless and living in tents on the east Strand of Portrush at the time. Murray's plea to manslaughter was accepted on the grounds of diminished responsibility due to mental abnormality. 'Considerable levels of alcohol' The court was told at 02:15 BST on 18 July 2022, the ambulance service received a report that a man was lying on the ground at Bath Terrace. When emergency services arrived at the scene, Mr Rowlands was found lying on his back between two cars with a puddle of blood by his head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Barrister Sam Magee KC said Mr Rowlands had injuries including a laceration above his eye and a wound to the back of his head. A post-mortem examination on 20 July concluded that Mr Rowlands had suffered bleeding to the brain as a result of blunt trauma to his head and neck which caused his death and he had considerable levels of alcohol in his inquiries were made, the court was told that Mr Rowlands and Murray had been seen fighting on the beach close to Bath Terrace. A witness reported that she had observed two men fighting. One man was on the ground and another was throwing punches and shouting: "You're lucky I didn't kill you". Mr Magee KC said police viewed CCTV showing two men buying alcohol together at an off-licence on Main Street in the town at 21:17 BST on 17 CCTV also showed Mr Rowlands and Murray together at 23:55 BST the same night and following the attack, footage showed Murray arriving at the Atlantic Bar at 12:11 BST on 18 July. Murray was also said to be intoxicated in the bar and was playing pool with a broken hand that night. A fight occurred The court heard that when Murray was arrested by police on 18 July he admitted he had been with Mr Rowlands on 17 July and had been drinking, adding that the pair were having issues. Mr Magee said Murray told police there had been a fight, that Mr Rowlands had started and involved both men slapping each told police he regarded the fight as a "tiff", the court was told. Mr Magee said Mr Rowlands had travelled from England a month before his death and was unemployed with a history of alcohol and drug misuse. The court was told that Mr Rowlands and Murray had become friends as both were homeless and living in tents and spent their days "drinking, fishing and taking drugs". Mr Magee told the court: "The defendant left the scene, leaving the deceased dying or dead, showing indifference to the fate of the deceased and continuing to drink." Defence barrister Gavan Duffy KC told the court there was "no question" that Murray was "very, very heavily intoxicated" when he arrived at the Atlantic defence said Murray "should have remained there and he should have alerted attention to what had occurred and remained to accept responsibility". The court was told Murray experienced a "brutal upbringing" and had a history of mental health issues, including Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Murray will be sentenced on 8 July.
