RICHARD CLOSE FROM BELFAST: FRENCH LEGION DESERTER AND KILLER SEEKS PAROLE AFTER BRUTAL MURDER
In a case that has shocked the community of Belfast and its surrounding areas, Richard Close, a man with a disturbing criminal history, is now seeking parole after serving a significant portion of his sentence for a heinous murder.The court proceedings, held at Belfast Crown Court, revealed the complex background of Close, who was convicted of the murder of Daphne Taylor, a retired schoolteacher, in December 1994.
Close, a former French Foreign Legion deserter, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal stabbing of Mrs.
Taylor, aged 59, at Ballymacormick Point near Groomsport.
The incident occurred on a cold winter day when Mrs.
Taylor was out walking her dog.
According to court records, Close, then only 23 years old, attacked her with a knife, stabbing her twice in the neck.
The attack was reportedly triggered when Mrs.
Taylor attempted to intervene as Close was attempting to take his own life.
During the sentencing, it was noted that Mrs.
Taylor, a widow and a woman known for her kindness, had tried to help Close during his moment of crisis.
Her act of compassion, however, led to a tragic outcome.
Close later expressed remorse, telling police, “The tragedy of all this is that if the woman had not come over to me like a Good Samaritan this would never have happened.
I will never get rid of the guilt.” Legal representatives for Close argued that the minimum period he should serve before being eligible for parole should not be set higher than the time he has already spent in prison.
Defence QC Barry McDonald emphasized that, despite the savage nature of the attack, there was objective evidence suggesting Close was suffering from an “abnormality of mind” at the time of the murder.
He also pointed out that Close had shown genuine remorse and had confessed to police, which should be taken into account in determining his parole eligibility.
Close, who hails from Ballymaconnell Road in Bangor, has been incarcerated since his arrest in December 1994.
His legal team requested that the court set a minimum tariff that reflects the time already served, arguing that any figure higher would be inappropriate given the circumstances.
The court heard that the judge responsible for sentencing before the introduction of legislation allowing for setting an absolute minimum term had not specified a fixed period, but the parole process now depends on the recommendations of the Life Sentence Review Commissioners.
Prosecutors highlighted the vulnerability of Mrs.
Taylor, noting that she was likely stabbed while Close was either standing or kneeling on her back.
It was also revealed that at the time of the murder, Close was on bail for another serious offence—raping a Belfast schoolgirl.
He was later convicted and sentenced to 10 years for that crime.
Further disturbing details emerged when it was disclosed that just three weeks after the murder of Mrs.
Taylor, Close committed another violent assault.
He attacked a woman named Maggie, aged 42, in the grounds of Castle Park in Bangor.
Close grabbed her from behind, covered her mouth, and dragged her to the ground, where he kicked and punched her.
The attack was interrupted when Maggie’s teenage son intervened, striking Close with a spade to defend his mother.
In February 1996, Judge Anthony Hart QC sentenced Close to four years in prison for this attack, emphasizing the grave danger he posed to women.
The court’s findings underscore the severity of Close’s criminal behavior and the ongoing concerns about his potential release into the community.
As the case moves forward, the question remains whether the parole board will determine that he has sufficiently rehabilitated or if he continues to pose a threat to public safety.
