THE KILLERS of Carlisle man Ryan Kirkpatrick should have been treated as 'social outcasts' and not helped, his heartborken mum told a court.

The grieving mum's comment was read aloud at Carlisle Crown Court as a judge sentenced three people who played a key part in helping 29-year-old Kane Hull and his 33-year-old sidekick Liam Porter flee from justice.

They are currently serving life sentences for what a judge said was the 'execution-style' murder of 24-year-old Mr Kirkpatrick outside a city bar.

Hull fatally stabbed the victim on September 18 last year, giving him no chance to defend himself.  The attack – at Carlyle’s Court in front of horrified onlookers, including the victim’s friends – sent shockwaves through Carlisle.

Prosecutors say Hull was motivated by revenge, having previously been jailed for an earlier attack on Mr Kirkpatrick.

At Carlisle Crown Court this week, associates of the killers – including a woman who was said to have been Hull’s secret girlfriend – were sentenced for their part in helping the killers to flee from justice.

Their actions both impeded the police investigation and significantly delayed Mr Kirkpatrick's funeral, the court heard. 

Two of the helpers - Olivia Memmory, 23, and Michael Celmins, 32, were jailed. The longest sentence – 19 months jail – was given to Memmory, who went shopping for Hull in Porter, buying them new clothes after they disposed of their old ones to avoid being forensically linked to the killing.

Memmory, from Cummersdale, also helped the killers by arranging accommodation as they fled, first to Alston and then on to Northern Ireland and finally to the Republic of Ireland where they were caught.

Defence barrister Rosalind Emsley-Smith said there was "a significant imbalance of power" between Hull and Memmory. It was only now, after 'proper reflection', that Memmory recognised her relationship with Hull was 'abusive.'

Mr Justice Linden told Memmory there was no suggestion she was frightened of Hull or controlled by him. She was drawn to men with criminal associations. The judge added: “I am sure you assisted Hull and Porter willingly at all material times.”

Celmins, from Irthington, helped Hull and Porter by providing them with a stolen Skoda car after they had burned the Volvo they were in when they sped away from Carlisle city centre after the stabbing. He was paid £150 for his help.

He claimed it was only after he had begun the journey to deliver that stolen Skoda that he realised the two fugitives were suspects for the fatal stabbing. He was jailed for 12-months.

The court then heard about the involvement of Ross Neville, 32, from Canonbie, whose criminal record comprised 42 previous offences, including convictions for violent disorder and dishonesty.

His role in helping Hull and Porter involved him transporting them on the night and providing them with accommodation - though it is accepted he did not initially know they were wanted for murder.

He did, however, continue helping them after finding out that Hull and Porter were suspected of a fatal stabbing, said Mr Justice Linden.

Neville’s defence barrister Jason Pitter KC said the defendant had made huge efforts to turn his life around. For 11 years, said the barrister, Neville worked at building up his commercial vehicle business, which now had an annual turnover of £300,000.

Describing Neville's role as "limited," The barrister added: “There is a low risk of him [Neville] reoffending. The risk was very much tied to his association with Mr Hull. But for Mr Hull, he would not be in this position."

Neville was given a community payback order, with 200 hours of unpaid work, a £12,000 fine and a six month 7pm to 7am curfew.

As the case concluded, a woman in the public gallery yelled out: “There’s no justice. It’s disgraceful.” Earlier, the court had heard the statement of Ryan's distraught mother as she condemned those who helped her son's killers.

She said: "It leaves me in shock and dismay and makes me lose faith in human beings, when such people should be condemned and should become social outcasts."

What Memmory, Celmins and Neville had done showed that they believed the actions of Hull and Porter were 'acceptable', she said.

She added: "[They]... at times acted as though this was some kind of game and they were all playing."

Some of the defendants were seen taking clothing and newly bought pillow into the dock before the hearing got underway.

They were clearly intended for use in prison.