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Father's sorrow for farmer

By ADVERTISER REPORTER.

Brendan Fearon's father has every sympathy for Norfolk farmer Tony Martin even though he shot his son. 

The father of the Newark burglar, now serving three years for breaking into Bleak House Farm, said Martin was only protecting his own property and that the three thieves should have known better.

Mr Joseph Fearon (pictured left), Newark Hospital's first ever male auxiliary nurse - now retired, said he loves his 30-year-old son but prays this experience will change him for the better.

Mr Fearon (65) said: "I feel sorry for the farmer.

" It was his house, his home and they should never have been there.

" He was protecting his own property.

" I pity him.

"The worst tragedy in all this is that a 16-year-old boy has needlessly lost his life over a few bits of silver.

"It is such a waste, such a waste."

Brendan Fearon, a key prosecution witness in the Martin murder trial, lived at home with his parents on Mercia Road, Newark.

He suffered shotgun blasts to the legs and thighs when Martin opened up on him and Fred Barras. Doctors found 196 pellets in Fearon's body.

Said Mr Fearon: "People have to be able to protect their own homes from burglary.

"People work hard for what they have got and it must be soul destroying to have it snatched away."

Fearon, a father of one, was able to escape by wrenching a window frame free and scrambling clear.

He raised the alarm by dragging himself to a neighbouring property and the police were called.

Barras was found the next day in an orchard.

He had bled to death from shotgun wounds.

Despite the age difference Fearon (30) and Barras (16) were close friends and Mr Fearon said his son still feels the loss keenly.

He said he still awakes at night with the sound of Fred's screams ringing in his ears.

Speaking of Martin's failure to alert the authorities about the shooting, Mr Fearon said: "To leave like that and not call anyone - that was wrong."

Meanwhile, Fearon and fellow-thief Darren Bark have been split-up since they were gaoled because they clashed on the inside.

Fearon and Bark (34) were both in Norwich Prison where they are serving three years and 3 ½ years respectively.

Both had supervision orders placed on them by gaol warders but Fearon has now been transferred to Weyland Griston gaol in Thetford, Norfolk.

Fearon, whose parents were in court to see him testify, visit him whenever possible.

Bark's parents were both killed in a car crash when he was a youngster and he has been in and out of prison.

His girlfriend Dawn Jessop is now pregnant with his first child.

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