Catching offenders in 2008: the ones who didn't get away

Among the branch’s successes throughout 2008 were:

‘Candy’ Ho murder: Siu Ching Wong was ordered to spend at least 18 years in prison for the brutal ‘honour' murder of waitress ‘Candy' Ho.

He had flown from Hong Kong to Belfast in June 1998 at the request of his old friend, restaurant owner ‘Jimmy' Yuen, to kill Yuen's pregnant lover, Mi Yi Ho, known as Candy. A painstaking police investigation over a decade trapped the Hong Kong hitman.

“This was breaking new ground for us. We obtained witness evidence from Hong Kong and a live video link was set up so witnesses could give evidence from Hong Kong. It took about 10 years from start to finish to get justice in this case.

“In the original trial there wasn’t sufficient evidence but the SIO (Senior Investigating Officer) did not give up. That is the sort of guy you want and that is the sort of folks we have here. I think this case shows that no matter where you are in the world, if we have the evidence, we will be coming to get you. Whatever four corners of the world you try and hide we will find you,” Mr Williamson said.

Qu Mei Na murder: Illegal Chinese immigrant Chang Hai Zhang (28) was told in March he will serve a minimum of 17 years in jail for strangling his Chinese girlfriend in the bedroom of his north Belfast home.

The body of the woman — who was known as Tina — was discovered in the boot of a car on a garage forecourt on Belfast's Antrim Road in the early hours of June 3, 2004.

Chang Hai Zhang told police he killed Qu Mei Na (22) after he found out she had been working as a prostitute in Dublin and was planning to find a remote spot where he could burn her body.

Jim Gilchrist murder: Anthony Fahy, from Northland Avenue in Londonderry, was ordered to serve at least 13 years of a life sentence for the murder of musician Jim Gilchrist.

The 62-year-old father of five was assaulted and thrown into the River Foyle as he cycled home after a night out at a local motorcycle club in September 2005.

Daryl Quigley of Crawford Square and Daniel Young of Cornshell Fields, both 21, received 10 years for manslaughter. Fourth defendant, 27-year-old David Young from Jefferson Court in the city, admitted forging Mr Gilchrist's stolen chequebook and was put on probation for one year.

Patrick McGrath manslaughter and rape of his sister: Arthur Francis Murray was jailed in January for a minimum of 12 years for the manslaughter of retired postmaster Patrick McGrath and the rape of his elderly sister Philomena in the Coalisland area of Co Tyrone in December 2005.

The 76-year-old pensioner was suffocated in his bed after Murray forced his way into the home Mr McGrath shared with his sister on the Mountjoy Road in Killeen.

Mr McGrath’s sister, Philomena, who was 68 at the time, was raped, beaten and thrown down the stairs before being left for dead.

Gerald O’Hagan murder: Paul James Morrin, from Galliagh Park in Coleraine was jailed for life in March after pleading guilty to the murder of teenager Gerald O’Hagan. Gerald was stabbed 14 times in the back and once in the throat just hours after celebrating his birthday.

Paramilitary show of strength: Former UDA ‘brigadier’ Ihab Shoukri, since deceased, was jailed for 15 months for taking part in a UDA ‘show of strength’ in a north Belfast bar. Shoukri was arrested in 2006 after police raided the Alexandra Bar and found him directing a dress rehearsal for the paramilitary show of strength.

The 34-year-old admitted charges ranging from membership to helping support the terror group. 36-year-old Gary McKenzie from Clare Heights, Belfast, was also jailed for 15 months on similar charges. Due to time spent on remand and 50% remission Shoukri was freed in a matter of weeks.

“On occasion we do get frustrated (by sentencing policies). It is the human nature of what we do. But the sentencing is for the court and the judiciary.

“We do feel frustration at times, particularly when you get involved in a case. It is more acute when a family is involved. It is very difficult to distance yourself. The judges themselves are constrained by sentencing guidelines. It is very difficult to be dispassionate and that is what the judge has to be,” said Mr Williamson.

Child abuse: Serial rapist Jason King was jailed for a total of 24 years for a string of sex attacks on young girls. He was convicted of nine rapes, eight buggeries, eight charges of unlawful carnal knowledge, 25 indecent assaults, three charges of gross indecency and three of making indecent images of children.

King, of Balfour Street, Newtownards, is one of the province's most prolific child sex offenders who preyed for years on girls, some as young as 12. He abused nine girls, including two sisters, over a six-year period. Two of his victims became pregnant, one miscarried after being thrown down stairs and the other King had sent to Liverpool for an abortion. Mr Williamson said: “This was a big success for us. It is one of the highest sentences ever to be handed down for rape.”

Eddie Burns murder: Belfast man Gerard Mackin became the first person to be convicted by a Dublin court for a murder carried out in Northern Ireland.

He was jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court after he was found guilty of the murder of Belfast taxi driver Eddie Burns in the city. It was the first time anyone has been convicted in a Dublin court for a murder committed in the North under a cross-border anti-terrorist law introduced in 1976.

“This was a very significant success for the PSNI, Garda Siochana, PPS and the Irish DPP. No longer can people commit a very serious crime and think they can skip the border,” said Mr Williamson.

Grace Moore murder: Kristoff Emmanual Alauya (25), from Nigeria, was jailed for life for the murder and rape of Belfast mother-of-one Grace Moore. Alauya had met Ms Moore in Skye Nightclub.

They went back to her Erris Grove flat and it was there where Alauya stabbed her twice in the neck, strangled her and raped her.

After ransacking her flat and leaving with various items, Alauya hailed a taxi as he walked away from the scene and asked the driver to stop at Creighton's garage where he bought microwave burgers because he was hungry.

Ms Moore's body was found lying on the kitchen floor by her teenage daughter.

He is due to be sentenced later this month.

“In the recent history of murders this is one of the more horrendous crimes,” Mr Williamson said.

Stormont attack: Loyalist killer Michael Stone was jailed for 16 years for the attempted murders of Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.

Stone was caught on camera as he tried to burst into Stormont parliament and attack the politicians in 2006.

The judge rejected his defence that the incident, in which he carried an array of weapons, had been not an assassination attempt but an act of performance art.

Stone (53) was convicted of seven other charges relating to the Stormont attack, including possession of nail bombs, knives, a garrote, an axe, and of causing criminal damage to the building.

Lily Smyth murder: William James Stevenson was told he will spend at least 25 years in prison for the murder of 66 year-old Lily Smyth in her Belfast home 20 years ago.

Belfast Telegraph