Victim: Don’t jail my attacker

The victim of a robbery attempt by a man he met via the fabguys.com gay dating website spoke up for his attacker and said he did not want to see him jailed.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said the accused, Derek Budden, was taken by surprise by the Christianity of the victim in expressing this view through the investigating officer, Det Sgt Tim Murphy yesterday.

Judge Olann Kelleher said that, despite the wishes of the injured party for Budden not to be jailed as he has a young daughter, there had to be a jail term because of the vicious nature of the crime.