Brothers jailed for hammer attack

Mr McCracken was attacked with a hammer

Two brothers who admitted an attack on a man which left him severely and permanently brain damaged have been sentenced to a total of 23 years.

Maurice McCracken, 56, was attacked with a hammer as he slept in his bed at his south Belfast home in March 2003.

Gerard Michael Donegan, 23, of Ross Road in west Belfast, was sentenced to 15 years for attempted murder.

Kevin Barry Moyna, also known as Kevin Barry Donegan, 20, was jailed for eight years for grievous bodily harm.

Mr McCracken has been left needing 24-hour care following the incident at his Strangford Avenue home.

The brothers also agreed to serve 18 month probation on their release from jail.

Jailing the pair on Friday, Belfast Crown Court judge Mr Justice Deeny said Mr McCracken had been "brutally attacked" without the slightest provocation or justification of any kind.

The judge said that despite the brother's guilty pleas, their very difficult upbringing and Gerard Donegan's unstable psychiatric condition, the attack was so violent and serious that custodial sentences were needed.

'Mindless violence'

During the trial, prosecuting barrister Terence Mooney QC told Belfast Crown Court that the purpose of the brothers' "mindless violence" was to steal cars while claiming to be from the IRA.

The jury was told that the McCrackens were the first of three families to be subjected to "rampageous attacks" by the brothers that morning.

Mr Mooney said Donegan went to Mr McCracken while he was sleeping and struck him "without any provocation" on the back of the head five or six times with the hammer, while his brother looked on and did nothing to prevent him.

The court heard that Mrs McCracken was forced to give them the keys to the family's two cars after dragging her from her bed.

However, the brothers fled empty-handed when they could not start either the Frontera 4X4 or Metro car.

Mr Mooney said they then went to the McCrackens' elderly neighbour and his son, who came outside after hearing the 4X4's alarm go off.

They had attempted to get back inside but were chased by the brothers.

The court heard they again failed in their attempt to steal a car and fled to nearby Harberton Park, where they broke in to a house and another family was "disturbed by violent intruders".

Mr Mooney said this time they managed to make off with this family's white Volkswagen Polo car.

Car chase

However, they were spotted by police who gave chase after the brothers sped through a red light on Stockman's Lane.

After a car chase, both vehicles collided at the Boucher Road junction and Donegan was arrested as he tried to escape.

Police found a hammer he had left on the floor of the vehicle.

Following his arrest, Donegan said: "Whatever I did I was made to do."

His brother managed to flee into nearby Musgrave Park, and discarded some blood-stained clothing.

However, he was linked forensically to the attacks through the clothing and a wallet belonging to one of the victims.

He was eventually arrested the following month near his home.

During the trial, Donegan apologised to Mr McCracken's wife for the attack.

Mrs McCracken dismissed Donegan's apology as having "no consequence" for her or her family.