Justice system failed my son

Jun 19 2008 by Graham Fraser

THE MOTHER of a Blantyre dad who was shot on his doorstep has slammed the criminal justice system for letting her son down.

Agnes Simpson (56), of Rannoch Court, is the mother of 34-year-old Barry Simpson.

Two weeks ago, at the High Court in Glasgow, Gary McFadyen (26), formerly of Berkley Drive, Blantyre, admitted attempting to murder Barry Simpson.

He blasted Mr Simpson from three feet with a sawn-off shotgun on January 22 at 1/7 Ballantrae Road, Blantyre.

Barry’s partner Sharon (31) and their baby Emma were in the house at the time.

McFadyen’s girlfriend Danielle Hughes, (29), of Rannoch Court, and her friend Alana Brankin (30), of Ardgour Court, both Blantyre, were originally charged with attempted murder but were freed two weeks ago after the prosecution accepted their pleas of not guilty.

An angry Agnes Simpson commented: “The court accepted a plea of not guilty by Alana Brankin and Danielle Hughes.

“These women are now free to go to live as they wish. Both of them stay within 100 yards of my son - one, within 20 yards.

“To my mind, these two women instigated the attack against my son.

“My son needs to be rehoused. The trauma of knowing that he may see these women at anytime is detrimental to his physical and mental health.”

A spokesperson from South Lanarkshire Council said: “Due to the shooting incident, Mr Simpson and partner presented as homeless and were provided with temporary accommodation. The accommodation provided was requested by them as it was near to supporting family.”

Two weeks ago, the High Court in Glasgow heard that just before the attack Mr Simpson and a neighbour complained to two drunk girls about their comings and goings in the flat where they lived in Blantyre.

That incident, the court heard, was the catalyst for the shotgun attack on Barry Simpson.

The women complained to McFadyen, who armed himself with a sawn-off shotgun and returned to the flat at Ballantrae Road.

The Ballantrae incident is not the first time Barry Simpson has been attacked.

In August 2000, he suffered a brain haemorrhage and a fractured skull after he was assaulted outside a butchers in Burnbank.

His attacker was jailed for two years.

Mr Simpson, who was a blacksmith prior to the first incident, has not been able to work since. Described as a “private” person by his mother, he suffers from epilepsy and speech problems as a consequence to the assault in 2000.

He declined to be interview for this article.

Agnes Simpson continued: “What sort of message are our courts putting across?

“We no longer feel safe. It appears that the criminal element now rule - they laugh in the face of our justice system.

“We were brought up to respect our justice system. We taught our children the same, to have respect for themselves and others, to do an honest days work for an honest days pay. “Today, these values are laughed as they no longer seem to apply.”

A Crown Office spokesman said: “The Procurator Fiscal will be writing to the family to explain the decisions taken in this case and offer to meet with them.”