Islington Tribune - by TOM FOOT Published: 15 August 2008
Lorraine Dinnegan.
Martin’s last essay told of a man ‘left for dead’
MARTIN Dinnegan had written a school essay about a man who was chased by a group and “left for dead” at the side of the road four days before he was murdered. The essay was part of Martin’s religious education homework that was discovered in his satchel two days after he was stabbed to death in a street after being chased by a group of teenagers.
The story is revealed in a witness statement submitted to the court by his mother, Lorraine Dinnegan.
It reads: “Two days after Martin’s death we found a piece of RE homework. It was about the miracles and parables of Jesus. Martin was asked to write about one of the parables and he chose the one about the man who was chased by a group and left for dead by the side of the road. This was written by Martin four days before he was killed.”
It shows how Martin had excelled in his studies and was “confident” he would complete an engineering course he had recently started.
Ms Dinnegan said in the statement: “Martin worked well at school. I received his exam results after his death and he received some good grades including an A in maths.”
The statement talks about the “indescribable pain” inflicted on his family by his killer Joseph Chin. “Life will never be the same again, a piece of our heart has been taken. We thank God for the strength that he has given us throughout this whole unimaginable experience.”