Two jailed for murder of NI boy

Two men were today jailed for life in the North over the murder of Thomas Devlin (15) in 2005.

Two men were today jailed for life in the North over the murder of Thomas Devlin (15) in 2005.

Nigel James Brown (26) from Whitewell Road and Gary Taylor (23) of Mountcollyer Avenue, both in north Belfast, were convicted of the August 10th, 2005, murder in Belfast Crown Court. They had denied killing Thomas.

The unprovoked attack took place on three friends as they walked along the Somerton Road in north Belfast.

Brown had already pleaded guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to Thomas's friend Jonathan McKee. The two boys were walking with another friend, Fintan Maguire, when they were attacked. Thomas died after suffering a number of stab wounds.

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The boys were returning from a late-night trip to buy sweets at a garage in the Fort William area of the city.

Mr Justice McLaughlin said the murder of the Catholic schoolboy "was a murder which completely shocked this entire community, but especially the community of north Belfast".

Commenting on the case, North Belfast DUP MP Nigel Dodds said the murder "was an appalling, brutal and pointless killing”.

“The conviction of two men today, by a jury’s unanimous verdict following a six week trial, sends out the strong signal that our policing and justice system is capable of tracking people down and holding them to account for their criminal actions," Mr Dodds said.

He added his thoughts were with the parents and family members of Thomas "who have endured a long wait for the successful prosecution of those responsible for their son’s murder".