Dad said he wanted to “kill those who killed” teenage son

Appearing before North Antrim Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday was Ivan Patrick Quinn whose son Ryan was murdered after being chased onto railway tracks and struck by a train outside Portrush in January 2009.

The court heard that on April 2nd this year, police received a report that three men had been seen in Dhu Varren estate, one with a knife.

When police attended the scene, they saw Quinn from Church Street in Portstewart, brandishing a knife, in the company of two others.

He was said to have made repeated threats to police that he was there to kill those who killed his son.

When arrested he made no comment in interview except to say that CS spray had been used on him.

Defence for 37-year-old Quinn said that the court would be well aware of his client’s “unfortunate background”.

He said that his client had been drinking on the day in question with two others and simply recalled running out of alcohol and going out to get more.

He said that Quinn’s recollection of events was poor and he had no explanation as to why and how he had a knife.

Defence said that Quinn had been in custody for five months and was now working as an orderly in jail. He also said that Quinn had engaged successfully with both AA and Cruise Bereavement.

District Judge Richard Wilson said: “I know the problems you have but I repeat that you can’t go round for the rest of your life using that as an excuse for committing illegalities.

“I told you that before and here you are again. You were warned before.”

Asked had he learned anything from being in prison, Quinn replied: It’s been the best thing for me. It has given me a chance to dry out. I’m off drink for five months now.”

District Judge Wilson said that Quinn had skills as a chef and urged him to start earning a living by getting back to “doing something sensible”.

Judge Wilson said that he would impose a four month concurrent sentence on Quinn on each of the charges he faced on Wednesday - possession of an offensive weapon, resisting police, assaulting police and disorderly behaviour.

He then activated all Quinn’s outstanding suspended sentences - the lengthiest being three months - to run consecutively with the current charges.

“That gives you a total of seven months,” said Judge Wilson.

“That clears the slate for you. If you appear before me again, you will be getting more if the offences permit it.

“I don’t want to see you here again. It’s time to wipe the slate clean.”