Glasgow man jailed for stabbing dad-of-three to death

A violent thug, who stabbed a 49-year-old dad-of-three to death after going to his family home to take his mother's ashes has been jailed for 14 years.

Clark Shaw, 41, from Glasgow, admitted killing Andrew Donlon by stabbing him three times on the body with a knife at his home at 1412 Levernside Road, Glasgow, on July 13, last year.

Shaw was originally charged with murder, but prosecutor Duncan McPhie accepted his plea of guilty to the reduced charge of culpable homicide.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Shaw went to the house along with his 75-year-old father-in-law James Barrett, who was married to Mr Donlon's mother, who had died three weeks earlier, and a 17-year-old boy to collect her ashes and family photographs.

Mr Donlon had shared the house with his mother and his step-father before her death.

That night Mr Donlon, who was in his bedroom, heard noises downstairs and went to investigate. Shaw picked up a knife as he walked through the kitchen and claimed he did so out of fear and panic.

There was a confrontation and Mr Barrett called his step-son “a prick.” Mr Donlon and Shaw then scuffled and Shaw stabbed him.

Mr McPhie said: “This was a spur of the moment use of the knife, the accused considered that there was a real possibility that Mr Donlon was armed.

“The accused, his father-in-law and a 17-year-old boy were at the house to retrieve personal effects belonging to the father-in-law, including photographs and his late wife's ashes.”

Judge Lady Rae told Shaw: “You caused the death of another human being and a family has lost a loved one. You are no stranger to violence.”

The court was told that Shaw has a previous conviction for attempted murder from 2002.

As he was lead away to begin his sentence, members of Mr Donlon's family shouted: “Yes,” and Shaw replied: “It's worth every day of it.”

The court heard that Mr Donlon died in hospital on July 22, last year.

Defence QC Gary Allan said: “Mr Donlon was a man who enjoyed something of a local reputation as someone you would not choose to tangle with.

“This is a tragedy for the family who have lost Mr Donlon, but there is also the tragedy of the family who will not see Mr Shaw for some considerable time.

“Mr Shaw's intention in going to the house was to get personal effects. He did not intend to commit any crime.