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Hunger strike protest by stab victim’s mum

By Matthew McCreary

The mother of west Belfast knife victim Gerard Devlin is to begin a hunger strike this morning in protest at the decision to drop murder charges against five men accused of his killing.

The 36-hour protest outside the Laganside court complex in Belfast by Mary Devlin is being held, the family say, to show their disgust after prosecutors dropped murder charges against all five members of the Notarantonio family and accepting pleas to lesser charges.

The youngest defendant, Francisco Notarantonio (21) from Whitecliff Parade, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, affray and malicious wounding. After his plea murder charges were dropped against uncles Christopher and Antony, and cousins William Notarantonio and Paul Oliver Burns. The four pleaded guilty to affray.

Gerard Devlin’s aunt Bernadette O’Rawe said last week’s events had robbed the family of closure.

“We’re protesting about the secret deals that are done behind backs without families being included; we’re protesting at being robbed of a trial,” she said.

“We’re not letting this go. This is too important to us. We didn’t get a trial. It’s the very least that it should have been tried in court.

Ms O’Rawe said the hunger strike would be physically challenging for Mrs Devlin.

“Mary’s not in the best of health, she’s very frail,” she said.

Belfast Telegraph

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