A man who killed his disabled father after mistaking him for an intruder while under the influence of cocaine and alcohol has been sentenced to life in prison.
Peter McGarry, 53, brutally attacked his 76-year-old father, Malcolm McGarry, at their home in Northfield Close, Sutton-in-Ashfield, after bingeing on drugs and alcohol. The incident took place in the early hours of December 1, 2023.
When police arrived at the scene, they found Malcolm McGarry unconscious in the living room with severe head and facial injuries. Despite the efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at 2:05 a.m.
Peter McGarry was arrested at the scene and, upon being informed of his father’s death, responded with disbelief, saying, “My dad? Are you kidding?” He later told officers that he thought he had attacked a drug-dealing intruder, not his father.
At Nottingham Crown Court, McGarry’s defense lawyer, James Horne KC, stated that McGarry was deeply regretful of his actions, claiming he had a close and loving relationship with his father. He also added that the regret was intensified by the knowledge that McGarry was responsible for the death.
A post-mortem report revealed that Malcolm McGarry, who had been partially paralyzed due to a stroke in 2013, died from a severe brain injury and multiple facial injuries caused by repeated kicks and punches from his son.
The case was brought to light after McGarry’s fiancée, Ruth Todd, expressed concern when she had not heard from her partner on the evening of November 30. She spoke to Peter McGarry on the phone, and he revealed that he was with his father, who had been beaten up. Todd and her son arrived at the house around 12:45 a.m. and found Malcolm McGarry severely injured.
Prosecutor Gordon Aspden KC described the scene as “grotesque” and “macabre,” with a large amount of blood. McGarry, incoherent and aggressive, denied that the victim was his father, insisting he had mistaken him for an intruder.
Despite arriving minutes later, police and ambulance teams were unable to save Malcolm McGarry.
Peter McGarry, from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, pleaded guilty to murder in April 2024. He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 14 years and 123 days, taking into account the time he has already served.
In her victim impact statement, Ruth Todd described McGarry as a “very good” partner, who was like a father to her three children from a previous relationship.
Focus Keyword: Peter McGarry, Murder of Father, Cocaine-Fuelled Attack, Nottingham Crime
Tags: Peter McGarry, Murder, Father, Crime, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Cocaine, Alcohol, Nottingham, Court Case