Sentencing brings back harrowing memories for another bereaved mother

“NO words I say will console those parents,” said grieving mother Annette Wall. She was expressing sympathy for Majella and Mark Holohan after the killer of their son Robert was jailed for four years yesterday.

Fourteen years earlier, Ms Wall recalled, the killer of her 18-year-old son served seven months of a four-year sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Ms Wall wept as she told her story on Joe Duffy's RTÉ Liveline programme, which focused on the Robert Holohan case.

Outraged callers condemned what they saw as the leniency of Wayne O'Donoghue's four-year sentence for the killing of his Midleton neighbour on January 4, 2005.

Majella Holohan's victim impact statement, which raised issues not put before the court in evidence, created huge controversy.

Unlike the Co Cork mother, Ms Wall said she had no opportunity to address the court in her son's case.

"I was actually told by a good friend of mine 'get up and get on with my life'.

"It's very hard to get on with your life when your beautiful son is taken from you for no rhyme or reason," said Ms Wall.

Ms Wall sympathised with Robert Holohan's family.

"That little boy ... my heart goes out to his parents. His search had all the hallmarks of the two little girls in Soham.

"That fellow should be locked up and the key thrown away. How are they going to get over this?"

She was "disgusted" at yesterday's sentence the same feeling she had when her own son's killer was given a similar term.

"That fellow will be out within a year, for good behaviour," she said.