Manslaughter of son rips a family apart

Jan 26 2009 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

THE grieving father of a man who died in a one-punch attack last night called for tougher sentences for those who carry out such violence.

Shaun Hardy, 36, of Berwick died after being assaulted by two men in a town centre fracas.

His killers Mark Simpson and Graham Patton were later sentenced to 27 months in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. A year on from Mr Hardy’s killing, his father Colin Hardy, 58, has spoken out to condemn the sentence given to the two men.

And he has revealed the devastating effect his son’s death has had on the family, in particular himself and his seven-year-old granddaughter, Shaun’s daughter, Blythe.

Newcastle Crown Court heard in May that former soldiers Patton, of Bridge Street, and Simpson, of St Mary’s, both Berwick, have previous convictions for violence.

On the night of the killing, they had been drinking heavily. Mr Hardy, of Highcliffe, Spittal, and head greenkeeper at Magdalene Fields Golf Club in Berwick, got into an argument with Simpson in Cashmere nightclub, assaulted him twice and was ejected.

Simpson and Patton, who at the time were 30 and 25 respectively, left the Golden Square club and approached Mr Hardy on the street, where the latter felled his victim with a single punch.

Simpson stood over Mr Hardy and appeared to prod him with the side of his foot. The pair fled the scene and Mr Hardy died from his injuries, which included a fractured skull.

Last night, Colin Hardy, who lives 100 yards from where his son died, at Temperance Terrace, hit out at the fact that his son’s killers received only 27 months in prison, despite their previous convictions for violence.

Mr Hardy, depot manager at Brogan Fuels in Coldstream, says he was told Simpson and Patton would get a minimum of three years in prison, but more likely seven to 10.

He says he was gutted by the 27-month term, which could see the pair released in May. And he spoke of the devastating effect his son’s killing has had on the family.

Both he and Blythe have not seen or talked to his other granddaughter due to a rift which has divided the family and means his daughter no longer speaks to him.

Mr Hardy, who is currently divorcing Shaun’s mother – from whom he separated prior to his son’s death, says he has become “Mr Angry.” He also no longer visits a restaurant or uses a bus stop in Golden Square as he would have to pass the scene of the killing. Blythe has a memory box of photographs of her father, which Mr Hardy contributes items to, as she is terrified she will forget him.

Mr Hardy said: “These people have destroyed a little girl’s life, they have destroyed my life and they have destroyed me.

“I am a blink away from tears at all times. Not for myself, for the death of my son and for a little girl who does not have a father. The crime and repercussions of that one punch will ripple through my life, my wife’s life, his sister’s life, his child’s life forever.”