Man sentenced to six years for killing mother

A man who killed his mother by putting a pillow case over her face at their family home in Co Tyrone has been sentenced to six years imprisonment.

But Barry Noone, 47, who had lived in England for 20 years before returning to Northern Ireland to help care for his mother, will be free after six months.

Una Noone, 77, died at her home at Rathkeen Avenue, Cookstown, in June 2022.

The court heard that Barry Noone had a history of family difficulties and mental health problems.

On Tuesday, a judge handed down a six-year prison sentence to Barry Noone, of Daleside Road in London.

He said three years should be spent in custody and the remaining three on licence.

This will mean that because Noone has already spent two and a half years on remand, he will be freed from prison after six months.

Noone previously told Belfast Crown Court that he was not guilty of murder but was guilty of "manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility".

The Public Prosecution Service accepted his plea of manslaughter, having obtained psychiatric reports.

A post-mortem examination concluded that Una Noone died due to compressions of the neck.

The PPS had stated that it was the Crown's case that Barry Noone had "smothered his mother with a pillow case''.

During his sentencing remarks on Tuesday, Mr Justice O'Hara referred to a victims impact statement from Barry Noone's sister, Tracy.

The Judge said it was "challenging reading" and that Tracy believed her brother's version of events had been "too easily accepted".

Una Noone was discovered in the bedroom of her Cookstown home, with her rosary beads in her hands.

Her son was arrested at the scene.

A letter was also found signed by Barry Noone stating that he was unable to take any more.

He had returned from England, where he had lived for 20 years, to look after his mother and he said it had been traumatic but he could not leave his mother to endure her struggles alone.

He said her crosses had become his crosses to bear and he could not carry them anymore.

He later expressed remorse and sorrow at what had happened.

Following the verdict, PSNI Detective Inspector Michelle Colhoun said she was "deeply aware that Una's family and loved ones are left to deal with unimaginable heartache and loss".

Detective Inspector Colhoun added: "This is the most tragic case of domestic homicide in which an innocent woman's life was taken.

"Sadly, domestic abuse can take many forms, from emotional to physical abuse. Abuse can happen over days or years, or can be a single act. It can affect anyone, irrespective of background, gender or age.

"In this case, an irreversible act of violence took the life of a 77-year-old woman."

Det Insp Colhoun urged anyone impacted by domestic violence to contact police.