PAUL O’HARA SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR BRUTAL MURDER IN RAWTENSTALL

In a case that has shocked the community of Rawtenstall, Paul O’Hara, a 43-year-old man from Heywood, has been handed a life sentence after pleading guilty to the savage murder of his former partner, Cherylee Shennan. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing sequence of events that culminated in a violent attack that left the community in mourning.

According to court reports, the incident unfolded at Cherylee’s residence in Rawtenstall, where police had been called in response to reports of domestic violence. When officers arrived, they found O’Hara armed with a claw hammer, launching a brutal assault on Cherylee. Witnesses described the scene as horrifying, with O’Hara attacking her with relentless violence. During the assault, he also assaulted police officers attempting to intervene, including Det Sgt Damien McAllister and DC Karen Kenworthy. Despite their efforts to de-escalate the situation, O’Hara fought back fiercely, chasing Cherylee into the street and stabbing her multiple times.

It was revealed that O’Hara had a troubling criminal history, having previously served a life sentence for murder in 1998. He was released on remand in April 2012, but his violent tendencies persisted. The court heard that O’Hara admitted to charges of section 18 wounding and assault with intent to resist arrest, which involved the police officers who responded to the scene. The attack was described as particularly horrific, with O’Hara wielding a knife in addition to the hammer, stabbing Cherylee five times as she attempted to escape from his grasp.

Cherylee’s family expressed their profound grief and devastation following her death. They paid tribute to her as a loving mother and a talented business owner, emphasizing her cheerful nature, culinary skills, and her unwavering support for friends and family. They described her as a cherished member of the Rawtenstall community, whose loss has left a void that will be felt for years to come.

The judge presiding over the case highlighted the predatory and violent nature of O’Hara’s actions, noting his apparent lack of remorse. This, coupled with his criminal history, was cited as justification for the life imprisonment sentence. Detective Supt Eddie Thistlethwaite, who led the investigation, described the crime as “truly horrendous” and expressed gratitude to the police, paramedics, and all officers involved in responding to the incident. O’Hara’s guilty plea meant that he avoided a lengthy trial, sparing the families further trauma and bringing some measure of closure to the tragic case.