Shane Tunney family 'disappointed' with killers' sentences
The 24-year-old's family spoke outside Teesside Crown Court today and expressed their disappointment at the sentenced handed out to his killers.
The family of murdered Norton man Shane Tunney say they're disappointed with his killers' sentences.
24-year-old Shane died five weeks after being subjected to a brutal 'pack attack' on Norton High Street last June.
His friend Anthony Kirk was also badly beaten but made a full recovery.
Yesterday at Teesside Crown Court, the seven teenagers were sentenced for killing him.
The gang, who were all under the age of 18 at the time of the attack, received over 50 years in prison sentences.
18-year-old cousins Kearan Terry Davis and Kieran Harry Davis were sentenced to 15 and 13 years respectively for Shane's murder.
The court heard how the pair had been committing crimes since as young as 10, wracking up over 60 convictions between them.
The other five teenagers were sentenced for manslaughter.
18-year-old Jake Douglas received a 4.5 year sentence, as did 18-year-old Daniel Hunt.
18-year-old Brandon Pitt was sentenced to 7 years.
A 17-year-old, who can't be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to 4 years in prison for manslaughter.
The judge said: "You are bright and you might make something of your life yet."
A 16-year-old who also can't be named, was sentenced to 3 years for manslaughter.
The defendants showed little emotion as their sentences were read at Teesside Crown Court.
The judge described Shane Tunney as a "wholy decent man" who "brough great joy to the lives of others."
Outside the court Shane Tunney's family expressed their frustrations at the sentences.
His girlfriend Vix Cooper told TFM: "We knew we weren't ever going to get what we wanted for Shane, but some of them we were really disappointed with.
"I don't think it's long enough for them to be rehabilitated.
"We're never going to get back to normal now because we've lost something that's so important to us.
"Even when they get out of prison they'll go back to their normal lives and just do things as they would normally."
Shane's dad Keith Wilson said: "The system is unfair.
"A couple of years time and they'll be walking the streets again, very disappointed."
The family said they may consider making appeals but at the moment expressed their desire to get away from court and attempt to get back to normal.