Brendan Fearon, who was shot by farmer Tony Martin during a burglary in 1999, has broken his silence after Martin's death. Fearon, who was injured in the incident while his 16-year-old accomplice Fred Barras was killed, expressed sadness over Martin's passing and said he holds no anger towards the farmer.
A burglar shot and wounded by farmer Tony Martin in 1999 has broken his silence after the farmer's death. Brendan Fearon, now 54, told the Mirror that he felt 'sad' and that the death of the 80-year-old was 'the end of a chapter'. He added that he believes Martin 'probably suffered as much in his life as I have' after the shooting. Fearon, who was injured during the raid along with his 16-year-old accomplice, Fred Barras, who was killed, said he has 'no anger or bitterness' towards Martin.
'He did what he had to do to protect himself and his home,' Fearon admitted. 'I’m not saying he should have shot someone dead - that’s wrong - but he felt persecuted by us and we shouldn’t have been there. His place had been robbed 10 times before and it was an easy target. I have no anger.' The crime sparked a fierce national debate after Martin was jailed for murder. However, an appeal reduced the offence to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. Martin was released from prison in 2003 but never returned to his former home, Bleak House. Martin always insisted he had no remorse or regrets for shooting the teenager dead. Fearon, who still suffers 'terrible pain' from the bullet wounds to both his legs, said: 'Life’s not been kind to me but it was much crueler to little Fred, who lost his life, and his family. But I have never felt any bitterness or animosity towards that farmer. He did what he had to do to protect himself and his home. 'I’m not saying he should have shot someone dead - that’s wrong - but he felt persecuted by us and we shouldn’t have been there. His place had been robbed 10 times before and it was an easy target. I have no anger.' He claims that on that fateful night nearly 26 years ago, he had 'no intention' of robbing the farmer. Fearon said: 'I was out with Fred and a driver and I thought I was going to help the lad sell some of some stuff he has stolen and kept in a lock up somewhere. 'I was a dad myself at the time and a father figure to little Fred, I wanted to help him get a good price for his gear. He went on to admit that he continued to offend after the shooting, serving prison sentences for burglary, theft, drugs, assault and more. 'Three years was for the Tony Martin offence. I pleaded guilty to burglary. I’ve done it, I shouldn’t have, so see what I get. But I finally learned my lesson, crime doesn’t pay and I’ve been out of trouble for the past 20 years, not bad.' Fearon, who lost both his parents to cancer, says he has now left behind his criminal past, saying: 'I keep myself to myself and don’t want any bother.'
BURGLARY SHOOTING FARMER DEATH REFORMED CRIMINAL
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