A teenage killer who stabbed a father to death with a screwdriver stolen from Poundland can now be named after turning 18.

Ewan Ireland killed solicitor Peter Duncan, 52, in a targeted attack at a busy shopping centre.

The murderer, whose identity could not be revealed by the media when he was still a juvenile, already had a history of violence when carried out the attack.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Mr Duncan, an in-house lawyer for a multi-national maritime firm, was on his way home and was ‘simply in the wrong place at the wrong time’.

He crossed paths with yob Ireland at an entrance to Newcastle’s Eldon Square shopping centre.

The solicitor raised his arm to let the teenager past at the doorway but Ireland flew into a rage which ended in ‘family man’ Mr Duncan being stabbed in the heart.

He collapsed outside a Greggs in the shopping centre, which was still busy with tea-time shoppers on 14 August.

Ireland, a serial offender, was on bail for affray at the time.

He pleaded guilty last month to murder but as he was still just 17 his identity could not be reported.

Now that he has become an adult, section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 no longer applies.

Witholding the killer’s identity caused outrage, with many people commenting on social media that if Ireland felt he was old enough to carry a weapon, he was old enough to be named as a killer.

Ireland, from Newcastle, was looking for another teenager who he had been in a row with over some cigarettes when he murdered devoted father Mr Duncan.

At a previous bail hearing, prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said the teen and Mr Duncan came into contact with each other by chance when they were walking in opposite directions.

Mr Wardlaw said: ‘The deceased raised his arm to let the defendant get past.

‘It is captured on CCTV footage.

‘The defendant took exception to that, took hold of the deceased and a struggle ensued.’

Mr Duncan managed to push Ireland away, which is when the teenager stabbed him in the heart.

CCTV cameras tracked the killer’s movements through the city centre and the murder weapon was found later.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Ireland had 17 convictions for 31 offences between 2017 and 2019, including an incident where he grabbed a knife during a family argument.

There was also an occasion where he threatened a driver with a blade after he was challenged about drinking alcohol on the bus.

Mr Duncan’s family said in a statement after his murder: ‘Peter was a kind and caring man who was always first to help others.

‘He was a devoted father, husband, son, brother, uncle and friend and loved by all who knew him.

‘His death will leave such a huge hole in our lives and he’ll be deeply missed by us all.

‘Words can’t quite describe what life will be like without him.

‘He had so much of his life left to live and he’ll be in our hearts and thoughts every day.’

Ireland will be sentenced in December after psychiatric reports are prepared and is currently in custody.

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