Man apologises to family of friend killed in row over heroin

A former heroin addict convicted of murdering his friend during an argument over drugs has told the family of the deceased “I’m sorry, I didn’t set out to do this”.

Peter Jackson (41), of Kerryhall Road, Fairhill, Co Cork was found guilty on November 13th at the Central Criminal Court of murdering Wexford man David Hamilton (31) on May 4th 2012 at a house on Kerryhall Road.

Jackson was given the mandatory life sentence by Justice Isobel Kennedy on Monday.

During the brief sentencing hearing Mr Hamilton’s uncle Robert Denby read a victim impact statement that described the family’s suffering since his death.

Mr Denby said the “world came crashing down” and that when they rushed to his bedside after hearing he had been stabbed, “it never entered our heads that someone so big and strong and full of life could die. No words can express how brokenhearted we are.”

Mr Hamilton was described as a talented drummer who developed a love of music when he learned to play the flute as a boy. He had played with bands in Ireland and abroad, most notably with international touring outfit Extreme Rhythm.

His younger brother Peter, who attended each day of the trial with parents Victor and Margie, looked up to Dave who, in turn “constantly looked out for him and advised him”.

Mr Denby said the “terror and sadness” of what had happened to David would live with the family forever and that every family get-together was marred by his absence.

Previous convictions

Det Garda Michael Dolan of Gurranabraher Garda station told counsel for the prosecution Tom O’Connell SC that Mr Jackson has 73 previous convictions.

Most were for road traffic and public order offences while he had 17 convictions for theft and burglary, he said. His most serious conviction was for sale or supply of heroin for which he was given a three-year sentence in 2008.

Det Garda Dolan agreed that Jackson had no previous convictions for violent crimes.

Speaking to defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC, Det Garda Dolan also said Jackson had shown remorse and had co-operated with the garda investigation. Mr McGinn also pointed out that Mr Jackson had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder, which was not accepted by the prosecution.

Ms Justice Kennedy told Jackson he had been convicted of murder and that she was giving him the mandatory sentence of life. She backdated the sentence to May 4th 2012 when he first entered custody.

As prison officers led him away Mr Jackson turned to Mr Hamilton’s family and said: “I’m sorry about this, I really am. I didn’t set out to do this. I’m sorry.”

Heroin users

During the trial, the court heard Jackson and Mr Hamilton were heroin users who went to a house on Kerryhall Road on May 4th 2012 to inject the drug.

Ms Pamela McHale, (26) from Cork, who was a friend of Jackson, told the court that they had bought two bags of heroin earlier that day worth €50 each.

An argument started after Mr Jackson had cooked up the first bag of heroin and injected himself and Ms McHale but had difficulty finding a vein to inject Mr Hamilton.

Ms McHale said said Mr Hamilton became increasingly agitated and wanted to take the heroin to another house and he and Jackson got into a fight.

“He was trying to pull the foil off Peter and Peter gave him a dig and Dave gave Peter a dig. Peter picked something up from the table and he swung.”

It was some minutes before she noticed that there was “blood everywhere” and that Mr Hamilton’s shirt was soaked with blood.

Mr Hamilton left the house and collapsed on the pavement outside while Ms McHale called an ambulance. Mr Jackson initially told gardaí that he had found Mr Hamilton bleeding on the pavement but later admitted his role in the stabbing.