Trevor Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Trevor Hamilton is a Northern Irish murderer.
He abducted and murdered 65-year-old Attracta Harron, a recently-retired librarian, when she was returning from Mass in Murlog, Lifford
, County Donegal
on 11 December 2003. Four months earlier he had been released from prison after serving a sentence for a violent rape and other offences, including threats to kill.
Attracta Harron's body was found on 5 April 2004, four months after she was last seen alive, hidden in a river bank less than 50 yards from Hamilton's home.
Hamilton was found guilty of her murder on 12 April 2006. The trial judge, when sentencing him on 4 August 2006, recommended that he should never be released from prison (the first time this had happened in Northern Ireland
, though such sentences have been imposed on as many as 50 inmates in England and Wales
) but on 27 June 2008 the Court of Appeal instead ruled that he would have to serve 35 years before parole
could be considered, meaning that he is now expected to remain in prison until at least 2040 and the age of 58.
He abducted and murdered 65-year-old Attracta Harron, a recently-retired librarian, when she was returning from Mass in Murlog, Lifford
Lifford
Lifford is the county town of County Donegal, Ireland. It is the administrative capital of the county and the seat of Donegal County Council, although the town of Letterkenny is often mistaken for fulfilling this role...
, County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
on 11 December 2003. Four months earlier he had been released from prison after serving a sentence for a violent rape and other offences, including threats to kill.
Attracta Harron's body was found on 5 April 2004, four months after she was last seen alive, hidden in a river bank less than 50 yards from Hamilton's home.
Hamilton was found guilty of her murder on 12 April 2006. The trial judge, when sentencing him on 4 August 2006, recommended that he should never be released from prison (the first time this had happened in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, though such sentences have been imposed on as many as 50 inmates in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
) but on 27 June 2008 the Court of Appeal instead ruled that he would have to serve 35 years before parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
could be considered, meaning that he is now expected to remain in prison until at least 2040 and the age of 58.
External links
- Review of how he was supervised by the statutory agencies
- Northern Ireland Office statement
- Statement by Northern Ireland Prison Service
- Northern Ireland Courts Service press release on sentencing (DOC file)
- Northern Ireland Courts Service Judge McLaughlin's Sentencing Statement - Full Version
- Neutral Citation No.[2008 NICA 27 - Court of Appeal - The Queen v Trevor Hamilton
- Family site