A 15-year jail sentence has been handed down to a man who fatally attacked his partner’s cousin while he was asleep. Timothy Walker, 43, originally from Abbey Ring in Holywood, was convicted of murdering Denis Shearer in a brutal and prolonged assault. The incident occurred on 28th February 2021, resulting in Shearer’s death nine days later in the hospital due to severe head injuries that were initially mistaken for gunshot wounds.
During the trial, it was revealed that Walker armed himself with a weapon and repeatedly struck Shearer, causing extensive bloodstains in the room. The presiding judge, Mr. Justice O’Hara, emphasized the gravity of the crime, stating that Walker’s actions had not only robbed Shearer of his life but had also inflicted lasting trauma on his loved ones. Natalie Brannigan, 42, from The Green in Holywood, also faced charges for assisting offenders, receiving a suspended two-year sentence.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness of the Police Service of Northern Ireland expressed the profound impact of Shearer’s untimely death on his family. McGuinness lamented the senselessness of the loss, noting the deep sorrow experienced by Shearer’s foster mother and birth mother in the wake of the tragedy. The tragic incident has left a lasting mark on those who knew and cared for Denis Shearer, underscoring the devastating ripple effects of such a heinous act of violence
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