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Thomas’ widow Lorraine Breen |
Seven years on, family boost reward to catch killer
ONE of the biggest rewards in London has been offered in a fresh bid to catch a killer who escaped arrest after stabbing a man in Camden Town’s busiest street.
The family of builder Thomas Breen, 50, said this week that they will not rest until they get justice and are to use their savings to top up a police reward.
Scotland Yard has already pledged £20,000. Now, Mr Breen’s grieving relatives have added another £30,000 – a total of £50,000 on the table for anybody who can help solve the case.
Monday will mark the seventh anniversary of the father-of-two’s death.
Mr Breen, who was from Downpatrick in Northern Ireland, was in London for work.
He was stabbed while out with a friend in Camden High Street at the corner of Hawley Road.
It was dark, but early enough for scores of potential witnesses to have seen the moment when Mr Breen collapsed with a wound to his stomach.
His family still hope witnesses or people who hold information on the identity of the killer will still come forward.
His widow Lorraine Breen, 55, said: “We have endured the worst nightmare over the past seven years. We are begging people to come forward. How would they feel if one of their fathers were killed in an unprovoked attack?”
The New Journal visited her at the family home in Downpatrick in Northern Ireland, a house still decorated with photos of football fanatic Tom.
Mrs Breen said: “You can’t really move on. People say that even if they are never caught they will have to face being judged by God, but that is not enough for me. They need to face a court in this world, in this life.”
One of the couple’s sons, investigative journalist Stephen Breen, has previously offered to travel to London and meet anybody who is too frightened to call detectives.
He said: “The police have offered £20,000, so we are putting in another £30,000. We’re just hoping somebody will come forward.”
The case is the only outstanding unsolved murder from 2002 when the roads leading from Kentish Town to the Lock were nicknamed “Murder Mile” after six unrelated killings on the streets in a three-month spell.
Police have released several appeals and photo-fits of suspects but to move the investigation further on – after seven years – they believe they need somebody to come to them.
Detective Inspector Tony McKeown said: “If anyone comes forward with useful information, we will follow it up.”
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