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Ex-Prison Nurse Weds Murderer in Jail Ceremony
Belefast Telegraph
November 23, 2008
A former prison nurse whose career may be in jeopardy over her relationship with a jailed murderer has married him in an intimate ceremony at Maghaberry Prison.
Kathryn McClelland and glue-sniffing killer Paul Johnston (26) walked down the aisle in front of about half a dozen guests in the Co Antrim jail’s chapel last week.
Johnston and his brother Stephen are both serving a life sentence for the horrific murder of defenceless Sean May in west Belfast in December 1999.
The 58-year-old single man, who had learning difficulties, lived alone in a pensioner bungalow off the Springfield Road.
He was stabbed a total of 45 times and his head and body beaten with a wheelbrace in a frenzied attack.
The brothers’ trial heard they had been high on drink and glue on the night of the murder.
They had gone into Mr May’s home and attacked him in his bed, stabbing him with two knives.
At their trial, Mr Justice Higgins, said the brothers had attacked Mr May in “a most savage, brutal and sadistic manner”.
In a damning judgment, he slammed their complete lack of remorse for the “cold-blooded, brutal and callous murder”.
Paul Johnston was handed a minimum tariff of 19 years while his brother was given 21 years.
It was while he was behind bars for murder that Paul Johnston wooed Ms McClelland who now works as a beauty therapist.
The divorcee — who reverted to her maiden name McCreanor before her nuptials last week — quit her job caring for inmates at Maghaberry and Hydebank Wood jails after starting the relationship with the thug, who is 18 years her junior.
Prison sources said Ms McClelland quit before she was about to be put through a disciplinary procedure by prison bosses. She was reported to the Nursing and Midwifery Council and has been suspended for almost 18 months as they probe whether the relationship was inappropriate.
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kaye7
over 4 years ago
854 comments
she is very disturbed and sick
mrsbro213
over 4 years ago
2 comments
They say love is deaf, dumb, and blind! But come on. A nursing license is not something you get out of the gumball machine! I would have quit the job personally. But that's me. I too am a nurse.
laura59
over 4 years ago
408 comments
Obviously she set her standards two levels below the lowest one and her "true love" met her standards. Maybe these two geniuses envision themselves as the future Bonnie and Clyde. Love had nothing to do with this travesty...lots of stupidity prevailed.
snowangel6793
over 4 years ago
12 comments
yes is is inappropropiate. she should have kept her mind on her job and left it alone. If she forseen an intimate feeling for the inmate then she should have quit her job. But, as for me I have worked very hard for my licence and would not want to jepordize it in any way form or fashion. But as we all know that it is sad but true that it is a common thing because these inmates know how to con and manipulate you they will charm you before you know it. Im sorry for her in some ways, but most of it she brought on her on self and it was her choice.
patsysp
over 4 years ago
6 comments
Nurses getting involved with prisoners is not as uncommon as you might think. I worked in 2 state prisons and knew a couple of nurses involved with inmates. Inmates have a great deal of time to learn manipulation and practice it on gullible employees. It can be really sad to see.
sereneintexas
over 4 years ago
20 comments
Wow! and I thought I was desperate.
dwhowe61
over 4 years ago
14 comments
This is the craziest thing I ever heard of! Everybody involved in this story that isn't opposed to it is nuts. One could write a book on all the mental illness involved in this case. No part of this is okay.
linasylvestre1969
over 4 years ago
2 comments
i don't think anyone in their right mind would give up her life dream just for love. She must have another agenda for it. Anyway who we are to judge this woman, she is looking for love and passion, and if she feels she will get it from a convict let it be. Only one thing i could say make sure that you don't end up just like that men he murded.
nurseaisha
over 4 years ago
588 comments
It's hard to say what was going through her mind, but true enough, we are all still human.
emtpixie
over 4 years ago
328 comments
Wow...that's an odd situation. I have to wonder what happened to cause Ms. McClelland to have a divorce in the first place? Maybe it damaged her emotionally and now she's in this mess. Or maybe it's just a rebound relationship that never should have gotten started. Hopefully she will wise up before any more damage is done.
Account Removed
over 4 years ago
Why is it hard to think a nurse would put their career on the line for this? Nurses are humans, we are not angels.
Northstarnurses
over 4 years ago
70 comments
Its very sad when you read such stories, this nurse obviously had some insecurities and a low self esteem to be woed by such a character. Nurses that take on these prison jobs are couragious people and its so sad that women will do anything sometimes to feel loved. My heart goes out to the victom and his family and I think the actions of the prison and disciplinary actoin was appropriate. If your looking for a nursing job I have plenty to fill all over the usa just give me a call.
336-644-6300 ext 122 Nancy Lankford www.northstar-search.com
kstiltner1
over 4 years ago
7172 comments
It is hard to think that a nurse would put their career on the line for this.