Son stabbed father to death in row about internet speed

A SON stabbed his father to death during a row over broadband speed, a court heard yesterday as he was jailed for life.

Stephen Gallagher, 55, attacked his father Thomas, 76, with a knife after a “trivial argument” about the speed of the internet connection in their house.

Prosecutor Mark Wyeth QC said Gallagher stabbed his father in an “intense attack” after walking away from the row over Wi-fi.

Mr Wyeth told Swansea Crown Court that Gallagher admitted to police that he repeatedly stabbed his father and shouted “die” at him.

Gallagher told the police: “He irritates me when he ignores me during an argument. He walked away and slammed the door so I rushed upstairs and grabbed the knife. I entered the room, grabbed the phone off of him, smashed it on the floor and stabbed him.” He admitted that he stabbed his father multiple times in the attack at the home in Cwmbran, South Wales.

He told police: “I could see he was in pain and he said ‘Steve’ – I wanted to finish him off, stabbed him again and told him to die.”

Mr Wyeth said: “Such was the intensity of this attack, Mr Gallagher was not able to defend himself and there was no evidence of defensive injuries.”

The court heard that moments after the attack, at 10am on Sep 10 last year, a postman called at the door with a delivery.

Mr Wyeth said: “A postal worker attended the premises. She noticed nothing out of the ordinary about the defendant’s demeanour. She described him as calm and said that she could smell aftershave.

“She did not know Mr Gallagher senior’s body was a short distance away from her at that point. That was within half an hour of the killing.”

Gallagher dialled 999 after the attack and admitted killing his father.

Paul Lewis QC, defending, said: “It is beyond comprehension that what started as an argument over such a trivial matter as the internet provider at their home could result in this tragic murder.”

Gallagher was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 13 years and four months.

Judge Paul Thomas QC said: “You killed him because he was asking you to leave his house following a row about broadband speed and connection. Instead of walking away, you went to your bedroom and took a lock knife.

“You attacked him repeatedly with that knife and you did so with such savagery and without any semblance of mercy towards him.”