Three men and a woman have appeared before Coleraine Crown Court today, Friday 29 May, for offences relating to the murder of Steven Peck.
Mr Peck (pictured), who was 33 years old, died following a serious assault in Ballymoney in January 2021.
David Austin, aged 59, from Ballymoney, had been given a life sentence in February 2023 after pleading guilty to murder. Today, he was told he will serve a minimum of 16 ½ years in prison.
Brian McCook, aged 30, and Stephen McCook, aged 34, both from Ballymoney, were each sentenced to four years for assisting an offender, half to be served in custody and half on licence.
Easther McCook, aged 51 and also from Ballymoney, was sentenced to two years, suspended for three years, for perverting the course of justice.
Detective Chief Inspector Hazel Miller, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Major Investigation Team, said: “On the evening of Sunday 3 January in 2021, police received a report of an injured man found lying on the grass at the side of a pathway in the Garryduff Road area of Ballymoney.
“This man was Steven Peck. He was taken by ambulance to the Causeway Hospital before being transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital due to the severity of his head injuries.
“Tragically, Steven’s injuries were not survivable and he sadly passed away in the Royal’s Intensive Care Unit on 9 January.”
Detective Chief Inspector Miller continued: “This was a totally brutal and senseless crime. The severity of the attack itself, and the callous way in which this victim was left lying on the ground, shocked an entire community, while leaving a loving family shattered.
“Amidst the sorrow, we’re keen to acknowledge the efforts of a member of the public who not only called for help, but also administered first aid until the emergency services arrived.”
She added: “Today, thanks to our dedicated investigation team and working in partnership with colleagues in the Public Prosecution Service, David Austin and his co-defendants have been held accountable for their actions.
“While today’s sentencings signify the end of the judicial process, I am mindful that the Peck family live on with the pain and anguish of what happened to Steven, every single day.
“Steven Peck was loving, caring and gentle. He was a much-loved son and brother, and my thoughts today are with his heartbroken family and friends.”
Statement from the Peck family
Our family has been completely devastated by the murder of Steven.
Words cannot even begin to describe the anguish that we endure every single day, knowing that he will never walk through the door of our family home again as well as knowing the cruel and mindless way in which he was taken from us.
Steven was known as our ‘gentle giant’ and ‘big lad’.
He was incredibly caring and kind and was deeply loved, not only by his immediate family but by all those who knew him and were close to him.
Our lives have never been the same since police called with us at our home in January 2021, and never will be the same again.
While we try to get through each day as best we can, we take a small comfort in knowing that those responsible have been held accountable.
We will remember Steven as he lived, our joy and our gentle giant.