Youth jailed for barmaid killing

Killed: Emma O'Kane died after a glass bottle pierced her throat at a Heywood bar where she worked

The youth who killed a barmaid after he hurled a bottle into a crowded pub has today been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Neil McNulty, 19, from Heywood, caused the death of 27-year-old mum of three Emma O’Kane when he threw the bottle into the Queen Anne Hotel, Heywood, on Boxing Day 2008.

A doorman ducked and the bottle shattered on impact, sending a shard of glass flying into the neck of 27-year-old Emma O'Kane, severing her jugular vein and an artery.

Miss O'Kane, who worked at the Queen Anne, was off duty when the incident happened, and was out celebrating her boyfriend’s birthday, who she planned to marry.

Judge Michael Henshell told McNulty he would live with the pain of what he did for the rest of his life.

Emma's family has previously stated that they do not want to be approached by the media, and Rochdale Online has respected their wishes.