Shaun family anger at cop guard for his killer
Victim’s parents ‘disgusted and outraged’ by protection for violent thug
THE KILLER of Shaun Woodburn was given special treatment by police as he left prison on the fourth anniversary of the violent attack which left the dad of one dead.
Mohammed Ibnomer was sneaked out from Polmont Prison under cover of darkness early yesterday morning while police officers blocked off a public road to stop the Daily Record from covering his release.
The 19-year-old was picked up by relatives shortly after 6am and just seconds later police swooped on our reporter’s car to stop them leaving the area to report on Ibnomer’s release.
In a marked car, they sat on a public road preventing anyone from entering or leaving the street until Ibnomer and his family had gone.
The extra attention given to Ibnomer, who was 16 when he killed Shaun in Edinburgh on Hogmanay 2016, has infuriated Shaun’s grieving dad, Kevin, who said: “Yet again, this is another example of the convicted rights meaning more than the victims’ or their families.”
Ibnomer and his gang had created mayhem in Edinburgh on the night Shaun died and their rampage across the city culminated in a violent confrontation outside a pub in Leith.
Shaun was an innocent bystander when Ibnomer attacked him and left the 30-year-old with catastrophic head injuries.
Kevin, who has since campaigned for victims’ rights after his son’s death, said: “I am disgusted and outraged at the behaviour of Police Scotland. To basically protect a convicted killer and allow him to leave prison with their protection beggars belief.
“They may say they were there for public order duties but it was 6am and I doubt there was any danger of any issues relating to anyone’s safety. To add insult to injury, the very fact that a killer is afforded such protection is scandalous.
“Would I or any of my family be afforded such protections if we were confronted by him? The simple answer is no.
“Once again, taxpayers money is being used to further protect an individual who was found guilty of killing my son. What did they think a journalist was going to do other than their job? Police Scotland need to explain their actions.
“What type of disorder were they protecting him from? Does this mean he will be protected for the next 18 months at the tax payer’s expense, as was the case with his legal aid bill in trying to defend him?
“This is yet another example of a broken system that does not afford victims anywhere near the same privileges that are given to a killer.
“It is a broken and disgustingly biased system that is in desperate need of overhaul and change from the top down.” Kevin added: “I understand that he has served the custodial part of his paltry sentence for killing my son but it shouldn’t be forgotten that he still has his 18-month supervision order and that part of his conditions are that he is not to be near our family nor enter Edinburgh or the Lothians without permission.
“To see his release on the anniversary of the day he took my son’s life absolutely is heartbreaking.
“The lack of sensitivity and thought by the authorities in this has once again justified our lack of faith when it comes to victims and their families.
“Once again his rights take precedence.
Police Scotland said: “Officers were in attendance at Polmont Prison on Thursday, December 31, assisting criminal justice partners.”
Under the conditions of his release, Ibnomer cannot enter the capital or surrounding areas without permission from parole chiefs.
He must also stay away from the Woodburn family and not make any attempt to contact them.