Mother of UDA murder victim still hopes killers are caught
Inquest told that Catholic, 21, was beaten to death
By Maureen Coleman
21 June 2006
The mother of a Catholic man who died in a savage beating by the UDA in Lisburn almost three years ago told an inquest in Belfast yesterday of her hope that her son’s killers will still be caught.
No-one has been charged with the murder of James Alexander McMahon, of Roseville Park in the town, who was beaten by three masked men at Hancock Street on November 20, 2003.
The 21-year-old delivery man never regained consciousness and died from head injuries the following day at the RVH.
James had been drinking with a number of friends at an area known as The Long Steps near the town’s Civic Centre.
Just before 10pm, the three youths were in the Hancock Street area when they saw two men wearing black balacalavs coming towards them. The men were armed with baseball bats.
James and his two friends began running along Hancock Street but a third man, also masked and carrying a weapon, emerged from an alleyway and blocked their path.
Daniel Sloan said that one of the men shouted: “Not this time boys”. He said all three began to run away but one of the men struck James across the head with a baseball bat.
Daniel kept running and caught up with Darren. They both went to Darren’s house to raise the alarm.
James was found later lying against a wall. He was in a “bad state” with blood all over his face.
Detective Superintendent Paul Hamlin said that following the “savage beating” 13 properties in Lisburn were searched and three people were arrested, but no-one has been charged.
Coroner John Leckey described James’ death as a “dreadful crime” and said that although no-one had claimed responsibility for it, the evidence pointed to the UDA.
James mother Deirdre said: “It’s very hard for us. We’ve been waiting for two and a half years for some outcome and we keep hoping that someone will be brought to justice.”
