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Agony of victim’s family

Laura Shannon
28/ 9/2007

A FAMILY have spoken for the first time of the horror of watching a 39-year-old father beaten so badly that his life support machine was switched off two days later.

Popular Glenn Marrow, of Westward Ho, Milnrow, was attacked outside the Castle Inn, Manchester Road, on Christmas eve and died in Rochdale Infirmary.

His son, Shaun, who was 10 at the time, has repeatedly told his mum how he wished he had pulled his dad closer to him to prevent him from being hurt.

Joseph O’Neill, aged 45, of Cutgate Road, has pleaded guilty to Mr Marrow’s manslaughter and is due to be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on 31 October.

Now Shaun, who shares the same birthday as his dad, is in counselling for his grief, while the rest of the family struggle to cope with their incredible loss.

Mr Marrow’s wife, Fiona, said: “We are a happy, loving, close family unit. I trusted and depended on Glenn 100 per cent. It feels like a dream, I have lost my best friend and soulmate. We did everything together, he is the missing link and can never be replaced.

“This is a lifetime sentence for us from which we will never be freed.”

Mrs Marrow described her husband as a ‘peacemaker, not a fighter’ who was physically unable to protect himself on the night of the attack, having had an aortic valve replacement and a pacemaker fitted.

Apart from Shaun, there were two other children - Sarah and Glenn - and two grandchildren, Bethany and Amy-Lea.

Mrs Marrow says she will never forget Boxing day when she said her last goodbye to the ‘bubbly and happy’ man she met at Roller City when she was just 15-years-old.

She said: “I was under the illusion Glenn was going to be fine at first. He sat up in his hospital bed and spoke on Christmas day. He put on a t-shirt and told me he had a headache.

“There was even a discharge note ready for me to take him home, but he got worse and the nurse was having to ask him the same question three times.”

They were all called back to hospital when Mr Marrow slipped into a coma and suffered a heart attack. They were round his bed when his life support was switched off.

Mrs Marrow added: “How do you explain to a little boy playing in the street with his friends that he has to go to hospital to say goodbye to his dad? That was heartbreaking for me.

“Shaun didn’t open any of his Christmas presents. He said if his dad couldn’t open one he didn’t want to open any.”
Her daughter Sarah, aged 22, spoke of her panic when she lay with her dying father.

She said: “I was frantic. I just kept thinking, my dad can’t die at 39, he’s got kids and grandchildren and his life hasn’t begun yet.
“I told dad he could pull through this and he just had to breathe.”

Despite having to face her husband’s killer in court Mrs Marrow has vowed her family will get stronger and pull through.

She said: “The two communities of Milnrow and Newhey have really stuck together and I can’t believe how nice people have been.
“I may feel weak now, but I will come back the strongest. I’m determined young Shaun will be a survivor, too.”

The family have also thanked the police, describing Detective Sergeants Alan Brown and Rebecca Matthews as ‘their rock.’

Mrs Marrow said: “We want to thank the whole investigation team for their swift and thorough investigation in putting this case together.
“As promised they left no stone unturned and gave us support. I sincerely thank every single person involved in this case.”

DS Brown said: “This was a horrendous incident and off all times for it to happen it was on Christmas eve.

“It was unprovoked attack and took place in the presence of family, the youngest son being only 10-years-old at the time, who unfortunately had to witness this ordeal.

“They are a lovely family and as we approach the conclusion of the trial our thoughts are with them all.

“I would also like to thank the family and witnesses who came forward.

“Without their help and support we could not have brought the case to a successful conclusion.”

Tributes are still pouring in

SCORES of tributes poured onto the Observer website in tribute to Glenn Marrow in the aftermath of his death. To date more than 130 have left messages, some as recently as a few weeks ago.

The most recent reads: ‘It’s been just eight months, buddy ... although it feels more like a lifetime. The pain in your family is still more than ever. I wasn’t doing too well recently and lost it for a while. But I will be strong for your family. I’ll try not to let you down. It is just so hard to put back pieces of a family whose lives have been shattered. RIP, Glenn, take care. We all miss you so much. I just know I’ve got to be strong for your wife and kids now. I’ll try not to let you down. Chris, Rochdale’

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