Ballymena man jailed for garage attack

Judge Desmond Marrinan told 24-year-old Melvyn David Bamber it was just “heartbreaking to see how much damage has been caused this young man by what you did”.

The Antrim Crown Court judge also warned Bamber it would be up to the Parole Commissioners to decide when, and if, it would be safe to release him, once he had served at least last half of his sentence.

Even if Bamber, from Clonavon Terrace, in Ballymena, fails to convince the commissioners to release him, and he ends up serving the full seven-and-a-half years, he will still have to serve an additional three years of licenced supervised parole, as ordered by the judge.

Bamber was originally charged with attempting to murder 25-year-old Alexander Dowie, but it was not proceeded with when he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of causing him grievous bodily harm during the attack at an all-night filling station in the early hours of December 27, 2011.

Judge Marrinan said he agreed with the prosecution description of the attack being both “ferocious and brutal”, and that in a “remarkable coincidence” Bamber had previously attacked another man at the same garage.

Bamber, he said, had persisted in his attack on Mr Dowie at a time when he was totally incapable of defending himself and totally vulnerable and that it must have been obvious to Bamber he was in no position to protect himself.

Since the attack Mr Dowie’s life had been dramatically changed, said Judge Marrinan and that the unfortunate Mr Dowie was left suffering with severe post traumatic stress disorder. A particular tragedy for him, he added, was the loss of his pension rights and distinguished career with the Royal Irish Regiment.

The Antrim court had previously heard that Bamber, who had been out on police bail, had felled his former friend with just one punch when they had met “by chance” at the Maxol garage after they had both been out separately for a night’s drinking.

Prosecution QC Terence Mooney said that the station cashier initially saw the pair “sparring between one another”, before Mr Dowie was knocked unconscious.

Mr Mooney said Mr Dowie remained in a coma for several weeks having suffered “severe brain injuries” as well as a fractured skull, fracture to the nose and cheekbone.

Before the incident Mr Dowie had served in Afghanistan and was looking forward to continuing his Army career. As the assault took place outside his military deployment, Mr Dowie has also lost his pension rights as a soldier.

Defence lawyer, Mr John McCrudden QC, said that a remorseful Bamber recognised that his attack was “absolutely disgraceful”.