Teen who murdered solicitor with screwdriver outside Greggs named

6 October 2019, 10:00

A teenager who stabbed a solicitor to death with a screwdriver outside a Greggs in Newcastle has been named as he turned 18.

Ewan Ireland killed family man Peter Duncan, a 52-year-old father, at a busy shopping centre with the stolen tool in August.

The teen, whose identity could not be revealed by the media when he was still a juvenile, already had a history of violence when he targeted Mr Duncan.

Newcastle Crown Court previously heard how the in-house lawyer for a multi-national maritime firm was on his way home and was "simply in the wrong place at the wrong time" when he crossed paths with the yob at an entrance to Newcastle's Eldon Square shopping centre.

Mr Duncan raised his arm to let the teenager past at the doorway - to which the youth took exception - and a struggle followed in which he was fatally stabbed in the heart.

He collapsed near to a Greggs store in the mall, which was still busy with tea-time shoppers on August 14.

Ireland was on bail for affray when he stabbed Mr Duncan with a screwdriver he had stolen from a Poundland store earlier that day.

When he carried out the attack, the teenager from the Westerhope area of Newcastle was looking for another youth with whom he had fallen out about some cigarettes.

Mr Duncan managed to push the teenager off, at which point the youth stabbed him once in the heart.

He managed to walk a short distance away before he collapsed to the floor.

At a bail hearing, Newcastle Crown Court heard Ireland had 17 convictions for 31 offences between 2017 and 2019, including an incident where he grabbed a knife during a family argument.

There was also an occasion where the threatened a driver with a blade after he was challenged about drinking alcohol on the bus.

At the time of the murder, the boy was on bail for affray.

Mr Duncan's family previously issued a statement in which they said: "Peter was a kind and caring man who was always first to help others.

"He was a devoted father, husband, son, brother, uncle and friend and loved by all who knew him.

"His death will leave such a huge hole in our lives and he'll be deeply missed by us all.

"Words can't quite describe what life will be like without him.

"He had so much of his life left to live and he'll be in our hearts and thoughts every day."

Ireland will be sentenced in December after psychiatric reports are prepared and is currently in custody.