A 27-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment in Northern Ireland for the sectarian murder of a Catholic boy in County Down
Glasgow Rangers Supporter Norman James Coopey admitted killing 16-year-old James Gerard Morgan. The boy's badly burned body was found in a pit near his home in Annesborough in July 1997.
Lord Justice McCollum at Belfast Crown Court told Coopey that he hadcarried out the "heinous murder" of an innocent young man.
He added that while Coopey participated in this "dreadful crime", he had not planned it, but it was regrettable that while his accomplice was known to police he had "so far escaped the consequences".
Afterwards the boy's parents would only say they were "glad it's now all over".
Body hidden
On 24 July 1997, James was picked up by Coopey and an accomplice while hitchhiking. When they realised he was a Catholic the boy was bludgeoned to death, his body doused in petrol and set alight before being dumped in a 10ft water-filled pit.
Later, an unsuspecting workman disposed of animal carcasses in the pit before covering it over. It was a further two days before his body was found.
Coopey was transferred to the Loyalist Volunteer Force wing in the Maze Prison after being attacked by two Catholic inmates. His lawyer said he now bitterly regretted his involvement in the attack.
Andrew Donaldson, QC, said that Coopey "was very much in fear of the person with him".
He said: "It may well be that taking part in the assault afterwards was to give himself some credibility to the person he was with."
Police confession
Earlier, Terrence Mooney, QC, for the prosecution said the day after the murder Coopey telephoned police to say he had been involved in a killing, although police had no reports of any missing person.
Coopey was able to name his victim and later told detectives he and another man had given the teenager a lift.
Mr Mooney said Coopey said his partner bludgeoned the schoolboy with a claw hammer. But Coopey also confessed that he had "finished Mr Morgan off with further blows" to the back of his head for fear he might later identify him as one of his attackers.
Lord Justice McCollum at Belfast Crown Court told Coopey that he hadcarried out the "heinous murder" of an innocent young man.
He added that while Coopey participated in this "dreadful crime", he had not planned it, but it was regrettable that while his accomplice was known to police he had "so far escaped the consequences".
Afterwards the boy's parents would only say they were "glad it's now all over".
Body hidden
On 24 July 1997, James was picked up by Coopey and an accomplice while hitchhiking. When they realised he was a Catholic the boy was bludgeoned to death, his body doused in petrol and set alight before being dumped in a 10ft water-filled pit.
Later, an unsuspecting workman disposed of animal carcasses in the pit before covering it over. It was a further two days before his body was found.
Coopey was transferred to the Loyalist Volunteer Force wing in the Maze Prison after being attacked by two Catholic inmates. His lawyer said he now bitterly regretted his involvement in the attack.
Andrew Donaldson, QC, said that Coopey "was very much in fear of the person with him".
He said: "It may well be that taking part in the assault afterwards was to give himself some credibility to the person he was with."
Police confession
Earlier, Terrence Mooney, QC, for the prosecution said the day after the murder Coopey telephoned police to say he had been involved in a killing, although police had no reports of any missing person.
Coopey was able to name his victim and later told detectives he and another man had given the teenager a lift.
Mr Mooney said Coopey said his partner bludgeoned the schoolboy with a claw hammer. But Coopey also confessed that he had "finished Mr Morgan off with further blows" to the back of his head for fear he might later identify him as one of his attackers.
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