Dad's anger at daughter's killer

Aug 5 2005 By Anna Jeys, Evening Mail

JORDAN'S heartbroken father threatened that he would kill Bennett if he could get his hands on him.

Gary McGann told of his anger towards Bennett and how he would like to mete out his own brand of justice.

The 23-year-old from Stechford said: "What I wanted cannot be put into words. I would rather show it by giving me 20 minutes in a cell with him. If I could get my hands on him, I would kill him." "We would not say justice has been done - 24 years is nothing, and Jordan will not be here in 24 years' time."

Gary's mother, Elizabeth McGann, aged 41, said: "Gary's life stopped the day Jordan died.

"He had to give up his job and has not been the same since. We just need to try and build our lives again."

Although Gary could not hide his hatred for Bennett he said one consolation was the long sentence he will have to serve before he is eligible for parole.

"We are halfway happy with the sentence," he said. "We wanted to make sure he was in prison for 20 or so years, and he served it all." But Gary and his mother were far from pleased about the sentence given to Jordan's mother, Sarah Collins, who was jailed for 18 months after admitting two counts of child cruelty.

Mrs Justice Cox said although the young mum had never physically assaulted Jordan and played no part in her death, she failed to protect her from Bennett's abuse.

Elizabeth McGann said: "The sentence given to Sarah is disgusting. Eighteen months is nothing. Is my grand-daughter's life worth nothing at all?

"We feel like all the blame has been shifted on to Darren Bennett. We were hoping she would get five to seven years for cruelty to a child, so we are really disappointed.

"We don't think she should be allowed to have any more children and we are praying that she doesn't. She should be sterilised.

"In a way, she has been given a life sentence too because she will have to live with what she has done forever."