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| Tattoo artist death: Aidan Mann killer jailed for at least nine years | Tattoo artist death: Aidan Mann killer jailed for at least nine years |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Aidan Mann, 28, was a tattoo artist based in Bangor | Aidan Mann, 28, was a tattoo artist based in Bangor |
| A man will spend at least nine years in prison for the killing of Northern Ireland tattoo artist Aidan Mann. | A man will spend at least nine years in prison for the killing of Northern Ireland tattoo artist Aidan Mann. |
| The 28-year-old, known as artist Zen Black, was stabbed 14 times at Church Street in Downpatrick, in January 2022. | The 28-year-old, known as artist Zen Black, was stabbed 14 times at Church Street in Downpatrick, in January 2022. |
| The court said Aidan was an entirely innocent victim who did nothing to provoke the fatal attack. | The court said Aidan was an entirely innocent victim who did nothing to provoke the fatal attack. |
| Barry Donnelly, 38, whose address was given as Church Street in Downpatrick, admitted manslaughter pleading diminished responsibility. | Barry Donnelly, 38, whose address was given as Church Street in Downpatrick, admitted manslaughter pleading diminished responsibility. |
| He was given an indeterminate custodial sentence at Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday. | He was given an indeterminate custodial sentence at Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday. |
| The judge said Donnelly must serve at least nine years in prison before he is eligible to be considered for release. | The judge said Donnelly must serve at least nine years in prison before he is eligible to be considered for release. |
| A spokesman for the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland said it was investigating a complaint of alleged police failings prior to the killing. | |
| After the sentencing hearing Aidan's mother spoke of the devastating impact the killing has had on Aidan's loved ones. | After the sentencing hearing Aidan's mother spoke of the devastating impact the killing has had on Aidan's loved ones. |
| Sonya Mann said Donnelly "stole my life when he killed my son". | Sonya Mann said Donnelly "stole my life when he killed my son". |
| "He chased my son down the street like an animal," she said. | "He chased my son down the street like an animal," she said. |
| "The fear my son must have felt and the suffering - that will never, ever leave me." | "The fear my son must have felt and the suffering - that will never, ever leave me." |
| A previous hearing was told that Donnelly had been "actively psychotic" at the time of the attack. | A previous hearing was told that Donnelly had been "actively psychotic" at the time of the attack. |
| He also pleaded guilty to the offences of possession of offensive weapons and assault occasioning actual bodily harm relating to a previous attack on a mother and son in June 2021. | He also pleaded guilty to the offences of possession of offensive weapons and assault occasioning actual bodily harm relating to a previous attack on a mother and son in June 2021. |
| Chase | Chase |
| CCTV footage shown in court traced Donnelly's movements on that day of Aidan's death. | CCTV footage shown in court traced Donnelly's movements on that day of Aidan's death. |
| The two were neighbours - although they barely knew each other. | The two were neighbours - although they barely knew each other. |
| The deceased left his flat at about 11:00 GMT. After being approached by Donnelly, Aidan crossed the road and started running along Church Street, still wearing a motorcycle helmet and being chased by him. | The deceased left his flat at about 11:00 GMT. After being approached by Donnelly, Aidan crossed the road and started running along Church Street, still wearing a motorcycle helmet and being chased by him. |
| The fatal stabbing happened on Church Street in Downpatrick | The fatal stabbing happened on Church Street in Downpatrick |
| The chase continued and, at one point, Aidan turned round, looked back at Donnelly and appeared to gesture at him before he crossed the road into oncoming traffic. | The chase continued and, at one point, Aidan turned round, looked back at Donnelly and appeared to gesture at him before he crossed the road into oncoming traffic. |
| The CCTV footage then showed Donnelly catching up with Aidan on the pavement outside a car dealership. | The CCTV footage then showed Donnelly catching up with Aidan on the pavement outside a car dealership. |
| After Aidan fell to the ground, Donnelly straddled his victim, who he stabbed repeatedly in the chest, leg and torso. | After Aidan fell to the ground, Donnelly straddled his victim, who he stabbed repeatedly in the chest, leg and torso. |
| Members of the public intervened, pulled Donnelly off Aidan and called 999. He was arrested while still being restrained by the public. | Members of the public intervened, pulled Donnelly off Aidan and called 999. He was arrested while still being restrained by the public. |
| Two large kitchen knifes used by Donnelly were seized from the scene. | Two large kitchen knifes used by Donnelly were seized from the scene. |
| A prosecutor at an earlier hearing said that at the scene Donnelly shouted it was a revenge attack for his brother who had been murdered the previous evening, which the lawyer said "transpired to be completely wrong". | A prosecutor at an earlier hearing said that at the scene Donnelly shouted it was a revenge attack for his brother who had been murdered the previous evening, which the lawyer said "transpired to be completely wrong". |
| Donnelly was admitted to a psychiatric unit - the Shannon clinic - in the month after the killing where he remains. | Donnelly was admitted to a psychiatric unit - the Shannon clinic - in the month after the killing where he remains. |
| Two consultant psychiatrists agreed that the defendant was suffering from an abnormality of mental functioning arising from schizophrenia at the time of the attack. | Two consultant psychiatrists agreed that the defendant was suffering from an abnormality of mental functioning arising from schizophrenia at the time of the attack. |
| A psychiatrist indicated that he would probably not need to remain for treatment much longer and envisaged him moving to prison. | A psychiatrist indicated that he would probably not need to remain for treatment much longer and envisaged him moving to prison. |
| Donnelly's defence barrister told the court that his client had not been aware that he was suffering from acute mental illness until after the "terrible act" in which Aidan died. | Donnelly's defence barrister told the court that his client had not been aware that he was suffering from acute mental illness until after the "terrible act" in which Aidan died. |
| He said his client has expressed "regret, remorse and heartbreak". | He said his client has expressed "regret, remorse and heartbreak". |
| 'Senseless attack' | 'Senseless attack' |
| Aidan Mann was worried about Donnelly's behaviour | Aidan Mann was worried about Donnelly's behaviour |
| Det Insp Foreman said said the "senseless" attack had happened in the late morning, "when members of the public were going about their business". | Det Insp Foreman said said the "senseless" attack had happened in the late morning, "when members of the public were going about their business". |
| The detective thanked those who ran to Aidan's assistance and who phoned emergency services. | The detective thanked those who ran to Aidan's assistance and who phoned emergency services. |
| "There are no words that can undo the tragic events of that morning," Det Insp Foreman added. | "There are no words that can undo the tragic events of that morning," Det Insp Foreman added. |
| "There's nothing that can ease the pain and sadness of those who knew and loved Aidan, and my thoughts are very much with them today." | "There's nothing that can ease the pain and sadness of those who knew and loved Aidan, and my thoughts are very much with them today." |
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| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Downpatrick | Downpatrick |