A Leeds father has spoken out in defence of his “lovable” son who was convicted of attempted murder, claiming he would “never in a million years” try to murder anybody.
Shaun McDermott, 35, was found guilty on two counts of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. He was sentenced to lengthy 34 years behind bars in March at Leeds Crown Court.
McDermott was jailed, along with cousins father-and-son Richard Bathie, 53, and his son Joshua Bathie, 18, after a shooting in a Tingley caravan park which resulted in two men suffering horrific, life-changing injuries. The Bathies were each convicted of two counts of wounding with intent.
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But McDermott’s dad Michael McDermott claims his son never intended to shoot either of the victims. Michael says his son, a manager of a construction firm, was only holding the shotgun to intimidate the victims and it went off accidentally. McDermott will be appealing his lengthy sentence, in a bid to be sentenced on just possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Michael, 60, said the East Ardsley community was stunned to learn of the events which unfolded as McDermott “is the most lovable person in the area”. Michael is horrified at the prospect of never seeing his son free again and says he will fight to reduce the sentence.
Michael said: “Everybody in this community will tell you the same, he’s the most lovable person in the area. Everyone loves him around here because he looks after the community, he’s done loads of stuff for the community. People were very shocked when they heard this.”
The victims were cousins Patrick Doran and William Price, both 28. There had been a feud throughout the day between the offenders and the victims, starting with a fight outside a christening where Doran was assaulted. This happened on the afternoon of Sunday, August 8.
Later on, Mr Doran with Mr Price then enacted revenge upon McDermott near to his home in Batley Road, West Ardsley, striking him on the head with a bottle.
McDermott and the Bathies then travelled to the Bathie's farm in East Ardsley to arm themselves with a shotgun and weapons.. They then travelled to the caravan site in Dunningley Lane, Tingley, where Mr Doran and Mr Price lived.
Car windows were smashed and the shotgun was repeatedly fired. West Yorkshire Police reported McDermott, who was armed with the gun, approached Mr Price and shot him during a scuffle as he tried to grab the barrel. Mr Price suffered severe gunshot wounds to his left elbow and extensive muscle damage to his forearm.
McDermott then pointed the gun at Mr Doran, according to police. He put up his hand which took the blast causing catastrophic damage to his fingers. He later had to have three fingers on his right hand partially amputated and suffered wounds to his upper thigh and groin.
But McDermott’s dad Michael McDermott claims his son never intended to shoot either of the victims. Michael says his son, a manager of a construction firm, was only holding the shotgun to intimidate the victims.
Michael says McDermott wasn’t thinking straight due to a head injury caused by the previous attack, which he says left him in a bloody mess, and he’d never otherwise have put himself in that situation. He doubled down on his claims, saying his son was trying to break up the fight at the christening and was the “most lovable person” in the community.
Michael claims the gun must have gone off accidentally during the scuffle at the caravan park.
Michael said: “Of course I’m disappointed, at the end of the day he’s a grown man. Everybody is responsible for their actions.
“But the actions he’s taken, he was not thinking straight, his mind wouldn’t have been focused at all. He wouldn’t have ever done that, never in a million years.”
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