From MSN


By RTE.ie, Copyright © RTÉ, Updated: 18/09/2009

Pensioner's killer to serve 23 years


A man who murdered his 77-year-old neighbour has been told he will serve at least 23 years in jail.

Robert George Harvey, 37, pleaded guilty to killing Tilly Campbell at her home in Barnagh Park in Donaghadee, Co Down, on 7 October 2006.

Belfast Crown Court heard that Harvey had smashed his way into the pensioner's home and beat her with an axe.

Fire crews, who were called to Ms Campbell’s Donaghadee home after neighbours reported seeing smoke, found her lying dead in her bedroom.

Mr Justice Hart said the ‘exceptional brutality’ of the crime, coupled with Harvey's violent criminal record and a pre-sentence report, indicated that he posed a ‘serious risk of harm to the public’.

During his trial the court heard that on the night of the murder, a drunken Harvey had ploughed all his money into a poker machine.

He then broke into the frail pensioner’s house, battered her with an axe and, as she lay dying, ransacked her house before setting fire to it.

Today Harvey, who pleaded guilty to the murder, was told that he must serve at least 23 years in prison before being considered for parole.


In normal circumstances I would not support the death penalty but in the case of this scumbag I would be only too happy to make an exception.