Man receives additional sentence for attempted beheading of alleged child abuser in Sydney jail

A man who attempted to behead an alleged child abuser while in Sydney’s Long Bay jail has received an additional sentence of five years without parole. Ricky McNamara, 29, who is already serving a 30-year sentence with no parole for murder, attacked the man in the prison yard on April 18, 2022, after allegedly hearing him brag about child sex crimes. McNamara approached the man from behind, choked him and sliced his neck two or three times with a makeshift knife made out of razor blades, paddle pop sticks and masking tape.

McNamara pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to murder and admitted that he was trying to cut the victim’s head off. He told investigators that he only stopped because he thought he had succeeded in killing the man and if he saw him again, he would attempt to finish the job. The victim was treated in hospital and released the following day.

In the NSW District Court sentence hearing, McNamara said he suffered child abuse when he was young and couldn’t stand to hear the victim allegedly discuss crimes involving child abuse material. His background of “extreme parental abuse and neglect” was also noted. McNamara's mother was just 14-years-old and addicted to heroin when she gave birth to him and he was left to care for himself from at least the age of 12. He has also been diagnosed with complex PTSD, substance use disorder and anti-social personality disorder.

The judge sentenced McNamara to an additional 12 years in jail with a non-parole period of five years commencing at the time of his current sentence’s end. Judge Antony Townsden said there is a “poor” chance of rehabilitation for McNamara who has been in prison since 2010 when he was 17. Judge Townsden also noted that there remains a strong possibility or likelihood that the offender will commit further violent acts.

The attempted beheading of an alleged child abuser in jail has garnered widespread attention and has highlighted the ongoing issue of violence in Australian prisons. The justice system continues to grapple with finding effective ways of rehabilitating violent offenders and ensuring the safety of other inmates and staff within correctional facilities.