I want justice for murdered son

Lorraine Tinney • Published 23 Aug 2010 14:00

A HEARTBROKEN mum is calling for justice for her son - 10 years after he was murdered in Greenock.

Kathleen Shaw, 61, says the death of Jackie has torn the whole family apart and she will never come to terms with losing her beloved boy.

She was living in Morecambe, near her daughter, at the time he was killed, but couldn’t rest there and returned to Port Glasgow three years ago.

Kathleen, who is also a grandmother, said: “I’ve been through a lot of depression. I just cannot get him out of my head.

“I feel he’s in his grave for nothing. It’s affected the whole family. They’re heartbroken over him.

“He was a lovely boy, he had a good job in Ferguson’s and had a wee fishing boat.

“He enjoyed his weight training and he’d done a survival course, so he could work on the rigs - he had everything to live for.

“He never got into any trouble. He had a heart of gold. He would do anything for anyone.”

She told the Telegraph the 31-year-old was stabbed through the heart during a fight in Irwin Street, only yards from his house in Lansbury Street in Gibshill.

No one has been convicted of the killing.

Kathleen, who lives in Kelburn Terrace, said: “No one has been in prison for what happened. There’s no justice.”

Jackie’s 10th anniversary has brought painful memories of the tragedy flooding back.

His mum said: “It’s terrible. I cannot even cry. The hurt is all deep inside waiting to come out.

“I’ve been through depression and counselling. I don’t think it hit me until three years after he died - then my health went right downhill and I started taking panic attacks.”

Kathleen says the worse thing is that her son has missed seeing his daughters growing up and he will never know his two beautiful granddaughters.

She said: “I was at one of the christenings recently and it made me feel sad because Jackie wasn’t there.

“He would have been so proud at being a grandad. We’ve not forgotten him and we never will.

““He had lots of friends and I just want everyone to know that.”

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 23 Aug 10

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