Hunter McGleenon brought so much “joy to everybody’s life” in the 11 short months he was on this earth.
His life was cruelly ended at the hands of 34-year-old Sharyar Ali, who today (Thursday), was told he will have to serve at least 13 years in prison before he is eligible for parole.
Hunter’s heartbroken aunt Coleen has spoken of the devastation his murder brought on the family.
“It’s really hard to put into words what Hunter meant to us all. He was just like a wee shining light that came along whenever we we needed it,” she said.
“Nicole was the best mummy that any baby could ask for. She just took to it like a duck to water and I just I loved how she never wanted to set him down.
“She always wanted to be close to them. Sometimes she would want to set him down to get a break, but Hunter wouldn’t let her. He obviously wanted to be very close to his mommy. The house was lovely. He was just he was a really, really loved baby.”
The last time Coleen and the family got to see Hunter was in Craigavon Area Hospital.
“Holding him in my arms [in the hospital] and the nurse told us that we had to go into a room to hold him and say our goodbyes because that was the last chance we were going to have to do that,” she added.
“It was difficult because it felt like we were all going through our own individual private hell. My sister, her entire world fell apart. Nicole didn’t want to live which was understandable because she just wanted to be with her son and what mother wouldn’t.
“I don’t think there’s any such thing as justice when it comes to losing someone you love to murder because nothing that’s ever given is ever going to feel justified. When you take a life away, there’s no replacing that; you don’t serve time and suddenly you’re even and everything’s okay again.
“We all wore bright, colourful clothes at his funeral because he just brought so much light and laughter and joy to everybody’s life he couldn’t help but smile when you when you saw him.”
Read more: Hunter McGleenon: Sharyar Ali handed minimum 13-year jail term for Keady baby’s murder
