31/10/2003

Teenager given four years for manslaughter

A teenager has been sentenced to four years in a young offenders home today after being found guilty of manslaughter.

Martin Griffin, 16, of Breezemount Close, Bangor, had just turned 15 when he stabbed to death 27-year-old George McClune two years ago.

The incident occurred during a party in Bangor which Mr McClune threatened both the teenager and his mother.

Griffin ran to his home where he acquired two kitchen knives, one of which he used to stab Mr McClune in the chest, resulting in his death.

Mr Justice McLaughlin told a Downpatrick Crown Court sitting in Belfast that he had taken into special consideration Griffin's age when the incident took place, and that the defendant would have spent a further two years on probation after his release.

(MB)

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