THE father of a young student who was brutally murdered feels the justice system is skewed in the favour of killers and not victims’ families.
Cameron Blair’s dad Noel told how the family was left “really disappointed” after the Supreme Court ruled that his son’s killer will enjoy anonymity despite his horrendous crime.
Cameron was just 20 when he was stabbed in the neck in a completely unprovoked attack at a house party on Bandon Road in Cork, on January 16, 2020.
The young thug was armed with a 21cm knife but was just shy of his 18th birthday when he was convicted six weeks later, meaning he was a minor.
Heartbroken Noel said last week’s ruling is a “very sore point” for them.
He told Oliver Callan on RTE Radio One: “We were really, really disappointed.
“I personally think it was a great opportunity for the justice system for the country, they run the roost anyway.
“The criminal, the system works in favour of them. This individual can’t be named.
“But every member of our family from the youngest child to the great grandmother, there’s no anonymity there like… And they done nothing. They’re innocent.”
Noel believes that parents should be held responsible for their children’s actions when they are under 18.
And he insists that there should be a mandatory sentence for those caught with a knife or harmful weapon.
Last year, the max penalty for possessing a knife increased from five to seven years.
‘HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM’
Noel added: “We’d be saying the judges are 100 per cent have the power in front of them to do what needs to be done to help solve the problem.
“What the justice system are saying, early intervention in their eyes is go to the schools and talk and talk and talk.
“In my opinion, every school should be issued with a letter, I think the law should be brought in.
“Every child in every school should have a letter home with them that if there is any person caught with knives or anything to that effect, they will go to jail.”
They said did we want a police escort to Cork and when I heard that, I said this is something seriously, seriously bad here”.
Noel Blair
Remembering his treasured Cameron, Noel told how he was an “easy going lad” who had a black belt in karate.
He said: “He just wanted to keep things going smooth… He was like an old head on young shoulders… he could explain himself very well.”
Cameron was just moving forward in life when it was tragically snatched from him.
Noel added: “Cameron enjoyed everything. He was a nice lad, enjoyed a bit of craic, enjoyed the fun but could also be very serious.
TRAGIC NIGHT
“A very compassionate fella in one sense, just by looking out for people that might have been weaker than himself and possibly not up to speed in the education system or getting bullied or anything like that.
“That came to light after his death, that he had helped quite a few people in that respect.”
Recalling how he and his wife Kathy found out what happened on the night of Cameron’s murder, Noel said: “We were just like normal.
“We had the dinner, we were sitting on the couch watching tv and the phone call came through.
“They said did we want a police escort to Cork and when I heard that, I said this is something seriously, seriously bad here”.
