Knives message on the streets

A CAMPAIGN against knife crime inspired by the death of a young Fife father is about to hit the streets.

Barry McLean (27), of Burntisland, was killed by a single knife wound inflicted by Sean Kitchener in May last year.

Hundreds of people are expected to march in Kirkcaldy later this month in memory of the electrician, whose son Connor celebrated his second birthday last week.

A second parade to demand action against knife crime is to be held in Edinburgh next month.

Barry’s devastated parents, Alan and Tina, decided to fight back after Kitchener walked free from court in August despite admitting stabbing their son.

As well as pressing for a review of the High Court trial in Edinburgh, at which Kitchener’s self-defence plea was accepted, they want an end to the weapon-carrying culture.

Alan told The Courier: “We don’t want anyone else to experience what we have been through.

“We need to protect not just our communities today but those of our children and our children’s children.”

The couple, daughter Lisa and son Craig are struggling to come to terms with Barry’s death.

Alan, a health and safety adviser and former firefighter, said: “We would do anything to get Barry back.

“We still look for him coming through the door. We miss his smile and his laughter and that will never, ever leave us. “They say time heals, but I don’t know.” However, they have been overwhelmed by the support they have had and are expecting more than 400 people at the Kirkcaldy march on October 27, which has been organised with the help of a large committee of neighbours and friends.

From 11am, supporters will march along the High Street with banners and T-shirts bearing the slogan “Ditch the knife and cherish life”.

The parade and the event in Edinburgh on November 17 are to be filmed and presented to the Scottish Government with a petition, which has almost 1500 signatures so far, calling for a review.

Alan also confirmed the family has sought legal advice and intends to write to the Lord Advocate.

They believe the jury failed to assess the evidence properly and claim one juror even fell asleep.

Barry died after going to Kitchener’s flat in Burntisland’s Abbots View, which Alan and Tina can see from their home, with Craig and the brothers’ uncle Kevin Thomson.

Kitchener fought with Craig the night before. He later told detectives he had feared for his life and “poked” Barry with a kitchen knife.

Barry suffered a wound almost six inches deep which sliced into a major artery.

He bled to death in front of his parents, who had rushed to the scene.

Picture: David Wardle. Barry McLean’s parents, Alan and Tina, with their poster.