Mr Mackey was originally from Callan, Co Kilkenny, but moved to London as a teenager, eventually settling down near Finsbury Park.<\/p>\n
A bachelor most of his life, he was a much-loved uncle of 22 nieces and nephews.<\/p>\n
Judge Sarah Whitehouse sentenced Peter Augustine to 23 years for the murder of John Mackey, along with 8 years in prison for the robbery of Mr Mackey, and four weeks for a separate theft involving a different person on 3 May.<\/p>\n
However, Peter Augustine will serve these sentences concurrently with his murder sentence.<\/p>\n
Judge Sarah Whitehouse said Mr Augustine will serve a minimum of 22 years in prison when days in remand are subtracted.<\/p>\n
He will only be released if a parole board agrees he no longer poses a risk to the public.<\/p>\n
“That day may never come”, she said.<\/p>\n
Peter Augustine did not attend court today, in his refusal notice, he claimed that he had a displaced disk in his back.<\/p>\n
Judge Whitehouse pointed out that she had made several queries during the trial about the Mr Augustine’s health and was told that he was medically assessed and was fit to attend court.<\/p>\n
She chose to proceed with today’s sentencing.<\/p>\n
In a victim impact statement, John Mackey’s niece Patricia Schan spoke of the ‘shock and horror’ that his death caused the family.<\/p>\n
She told the court of the distress caused to Mr Mackey’s siblings who are aged in their 80s.<\/p>\n
Ms Schan also spoke of how Mr Mackey’s nephew Stephen, who he was particularly close with him, had lost his only relative in London.<\/p>\n
Stephen had suffered life-changing injuries after being randomly attacked when he was young, and the evidence in court was particularly triggering.<\/p>\n
Patricia Schan said she could still picture her uncle standing at the top of the escalator, waiting for her, whenever she visited Archway in London, where he lived.<\/p>\n
She told the court that he was the “perfect uncle”, describing him as funny and mischievous.<\/p>\n
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\nPeter Augustine was found guilty earlier this month of murdering and robbing John Mackey<\/p>\n
Last May, as he walked home from his local supermarket and takeaway, Mr Mackey was beaten and robbed.<\/p>\n
The 87-year-old, who used a walking stick, died from blunt force impacts to his head and chest.<\/p>\n
When Augustine was arrested at the Beaconsfield Hotel on 8 May, empty containers matching the groceries purchased by Mr Mackey were found in Augustine’s hotel room. The food appeared to have been eaten.<\/p>\n