COMMENT: Community shares pain of Connor's parents

When the family of Connor Brown say they have been hit hard emotionally by news that one of their son’s killers has been released from prison, they are not alone.
Parents Simon and Tayna Brown say they are in shock although they knew killer's release date was coming. Right: Connor Brown.Parents Simon and Tayna Brown say they are in shock although they knew killer's release date was coming. Right: Connor Brown.
Parents Simon and Tayna Brown say they are in shock although they knew killer's release date was coming. Right: Connor Brown.

This will come as a huge shock to the majority of people in the city.

Less than a year after Ally Gordon was sentenced for his part in the death of the popular 18-year-old, he has been released from prison on licence.

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Gordon was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for manslaughter and being in possession of bladed weapon.

That he is back in the community before serving his full sentence behind bars is understandably a concern for many in the community. But what will stick in the craw is the fact that the sentence handed down to Gordon was referred to the Solicitor General amid fears that it was ‘potentially unduly lenient.’

On hearing the evidence, the sentence was upheld by judges. They agreed that the three and a half years was right and proper for such a heinous offence. Yet today he is back in the community.

While we appreciate releasing prisoners early is part and parcel of the system of reintegrating offenders back into the community, in this case it feels far too soon. And we feel for the family and friends of Connor.

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As his parents Simon and Tanya tell us today: "We are still trying to come to terms with what happened that night and the fact we will never see our beautiful boy Connor again.”

The Wearside community shares their pain.

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