Wife of murdered Claughton man Graham McKenna says she is furious his killer wants to appeal his sentence

Oct 14 2009 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

THE wife of murdered Claughton man Graham McKenna has spoken of her fury at learning his killer wants to appeal against the length of his sentence.

Devoted family man Mr McKenna, 45, was stabbed to death in the street in front of his teenage son as the pair walked to catch a bus to go to an Everton match.

Both were stabbed in the stomach in the attack on January 10 but Michael, then 14, survived.

Gary Finlay, of Alexandra Road, was given two life sentences at Liverpool Crown Court in July and told he must serve 25 years before being considered for parole.

But Finlay has now applied to the Court of Appeal in London for permission to appeal to reduce the sentence. The application is being processed and will go before a judge, who will decide whether an appeal can proceed.

Gill McKenna said: “I’m angry that he should even think this could go to appeal after what he’s done to my family. I think the law should be changed because he should have no rights – what rights has Graham got?

“He wants to appeal against the time of our sentence but what about our time? We’re left with the grief and facing every birthday, every Christmas and every song that reminds us of our loss – it’s constant.

“I want people to know that this man has the audacity to do this.”

Mrs McKenna thanked the community for rallying round the family after Graham’s death and said daughter Amy, who was 19 at the time of the murder, had been an inspiration.

She said: “Everyone has rallied round and the support and the help they’ve given us has been absolutely marvellous.

“Amy is 20 now and she’s been incredibly strong. She’s got me through some of the darkest times and she’s turned me around.

“I’ve been dreading Christmas but she said ‘no mum, we’re going to do it the way my dad did it, we’re going to buy presents and send cards and we’ll be thinking of my dad, because he’ll be with us’.

“She’s been there for her brother as well and I’m so incredibly proud of the two of them.”

Mrs McKenna said: “Graham was our world – he was my husband and the kids’ dad. He was their hero.”