Robber Jailed Over Pensioner Death

A man has been jailed for ten years after causing the death of a pensioner during a robbery at a newsagents in Belfast

21-year-old Darren Valliday-Smyth, of Clonard Place in west Belfast, was involved in a robbery at the shop in November 2010.

Samuel Crawford, 75, had a heart attack when he tried to stop Valliday-Smyth escaping from McGovern’s newsagents, despite the robber brandishing a CS gas canister.

Mr Crawford had intervened during the attempted raid at his shop Cavendish Street, on 1 November. He died in hospital two days later.

The accused pleaded guilty to his manslaughter, to attempted robbery and to possessing a prohibited weapon.

The community in west Belfast responded with outrage at Mr Crawford’s death, with hundreds of people gathering for a vigil in tribute to him.

Mr Justice Burgess described him as "a robust law-abiding citizen, prepared to defend others."

A lawyer for Valliday-Smyth said his client "would like to extend to the Crawford family his deepest sympathies and regrets about what the consequences of his actions and the death of Mr Crawford".

He said Valliday-Smyth is currently addressing problems of drink and drug abuse.

The judge said the defendant had chosen to spray an elderly man in the face with noxious CS gas, showing an "indifference to the consequences of its use"

(IT)