Tribute to Ashington stab victim

Posted by Graeme Whitfield on Sep 30, 08 03:41 PM in News

Gary Carr The family of an Ashington man who died after being stabbed in the neck have paid tribute to a loving father and husband.

Gary Carr's wife Tracey said: ``He was a loving father and a great family man who will be sorely missed by all who knew him."

In a statement his family said he was a quiet man who liked nothing better than spending time with his family and walking the dog with his two sons Owen, 12, and nine-year-old Kieran.

Mr Carr worked as a care assistant for Age Concern and looked after elderly people throughout the Ashington and Newbiggin area.

Police have charged 48-year-old Malcolm Neary, of Juliet Street, Ashington, with murder, and he has been remanded in custody at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court.

Father-of-two Gary Carr, 38, died from a single stab wound to the neck after being attacked at his home in Oakland Terrace, Ashington, late on Saturday night.

Paramedics were unable to save him and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police officers were called to the house just before 1am when the alarm was raised by his family.

Mr Carr, who was born in Bedlington where his uncle Ronnie, brother John and sister Diane Luke still live, moved to Ashington with his family five years ago.

He enjoyed playing snooker, darts and pool. Yesterday Mrs Carr said: "He was a loving father and a great family man who will be sorely missed by all who knew him."

Age Concern Northumberland chief officer Gary Brown said: "Gary was a very caring and conscientious person who was extremely popular with both staff and the people he cared for. He will be sadly missed and our thoughts are with his family."

Yesterday Mr Carr's brother-in-law, Malcolm Neary, 46, of Juliet Street, Ashington, appeared before magistrates in Bedlington after being charged with his murder.

Neary, whose wife is Mrs Carr's sister, was arrested by police shortly after the incident. He and Mr Carr had been out together in Ashington on Saturday night before going back to the house in Oakland Terrace.

Yesterday, wearing an open-necked grey shirt and flanked in the dock by three security guards, he sat with his head bowed throughout the hearing, speaking only to confirm his name and address.

Members of his family and police officers involved in the case sat at the rear of the court during the hearing.

No application for bail was made by Neary's solicitor, John Monkhouse, and he was remanded in custody to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on October 7.

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