Neeson backs mother's fight for justice for murdered daughter

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 21st Jun 2004

ALLIANCE Assembly member for East Antrim Sean Neeson has written to the Secretary of State, the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions to call for an appeal into the minimum jail term of Conor Doyle for the murder of Angela Snoddy recently.

Mr Doyle was given a 10-year minimum term - the lowest ever - for the savage murder of Ms Snoddy in October 2002 in Whiteabbey.

Mr Neeson said: "This ridiculously low minimum term has caused much anger and upset to the Snoddy family, and understandably so. Angela Snoddy was butchered in an evil and savage attack, and the terms of this sentence do not in any way reflect adequate justice.

"This was one of the most brutal murders I have ever heard of, but the leniency shown over this and other cases is leading many people, including police officers, to become disillusioned and lose faith in the judicial system.

"I have met with Angela's mother and family and they are devastated by the sentencing, and by the way Doyle smiled at them from the dock afterwards. For someone who seems to feel so little remorse for what he has done, leaving two young children without a mother and destroying a family, 10 years in prison is far from enough.

"I think the vast majority of people would agree that justice has neither been done, nor seen to be done, and I have written to the Secretary of State, the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions, urging them to back a review into the terms of Doyle's sentence.

"This is not the first time the Northern Ireland courts have been criticised for being too lenient, and sadly, it appears to happen far too often these days."