A killer who stabbed his friend through the heart during a frenzied attack has been jailed for eight years. Francis McConnachie murdered Thomas O’Rourke, 21, after a row between the pair broke out on Coldstream Crescent in Wishaw on February 24, 2023.
McConnachie repeatedly landed blows on the Celtic fan’s head and body before stabbing him in the body four times across his chest, ribs and then heart, before dealing another blow of blunt force to his victim’s head.
The 36-year-old from Wishaw denied murdering Thomas, claiming self-defence, and had been under the influence of alcohol and valium at the time of the incident. At the High Court in Glasgow on Monday, McConnachie was handed eight years in jail.
On sentencing, Lord Arthurson said: “You assaulted and killed Thomas O’Rourke, a young man who was then only 21 years of age. You repeatedly punched him on the head and body, repeatedly struck him on the body with a knife and inflicted blunt force trauma to his head.
“In convicting you of the crime of culpable homicide, the jury in this case has plainly rejected your position of self-defence, but has further held that provocation, such as would operate to reduce the crime of murder charged on the indictment to that of culpable homicide, was engaged in the circumstances of this case.
“On your own evidence you left your home and involved yourself in a confrontation with the deceased in a public space within a residential area, having earlier consumed alcohol and taken valium. In particular, you inflicted multiple knife wounds upon your victim, the wound which penetrated his heart being the direct cause of his death.
“The jury has held that there was a sound evidential basis for provocation, you having been the subject of a knife attack by the deceased, and that therefore the criminal nature and quality of what was otherwise a murderous attack by you, which led to the death of your victim, should be reflected in a verdict of culpable homicide.
“You should be under no illusions as to the scale of the dreadful loss sustained by Mr O’Rourke’s family in respect of their bereavement, occasioned as that was by your fatal attack upon him.”
At the time, dozens of heartfelt tributes poured in on social media for the popular Thomas, who was pals with fatal bike crash duo Derek Paton, 19, and Leon Fitzpatrick, 18, who died in 2021.
Writing on social media, one pal said: “Rest in peace Thomas O’Rourke. You really were such an amazing, funny wee character. Such a cruel world we live in. I hope you are up there partying with Derek, Daryl and Leon. You will be forever missed.”
Another said: “Rest easy up there Thomas O’Rourke. Absolutely heartbreaking. Party hard up there with Derek and Daryl.”
A third wrote: “So devastated. RIP Thomas O’Rourke. You were such a wee soul. You’ll be missed so much. Hope you and Daryl O’Rourke have a bottle up there. Best boys ever.”
Another added: “Fly high Thomas O’Rourke. You were gone too soon and I’ll miss you. The only lining of this situation is you’re gone from this s**** place and yer with yer family now.
“You get to see everyone you miss. God knows we’ll all see you again big man so don’t fret it. My thoughts are with the rest of his family and his pals. Fly high big man and I’ll never forget you.”
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