STEPHENVILLE, N.L. — While Lisa McFatridge wouldn’t like to visit home and run into Robert Hilroy Legg, she is even more concerned for her former co-workers who might have to provide him care.
She was a co-worker and a very close friend of Ann Lucas, who was killed by Legge back on Sept. 21 of 2003.
McFatridge and Lucas worked at the Bay St. George Senior Citizens Home at the time, along with lots of other co-workers, some of whom she said are still working at what is now the Bay St. George Long Term Care Centre in Stephenville Crossing.
She said now that Legge is in his 80s, if he ends up living back in the Bay St. George area and needs to enter a senior's home, the long-term care facility is exactly where he would go.
Robert Hilroy Legge conditions
As per the community-based residential facility or other residential facility rules and regulations, not to exceed Parole Board of Canada policy.
Day Parole – Pre-Release:
- Not to Consume Alcohol. Not to consume, purchase or possess alcohol. – Imposed
- Report Relationships. Immediately report all intimate sexual and non-sexual relationships and friendships with females to your parole officer. – Imposed
- Avoid Persons – Victims. No direct or indirect contact with any member of your victim's family. – Imposed
- Not to Consume Drugs. Not to consume, purchase or possess drugs other than prescribed medication taken as prescribed and over the counter drugs taken as recommended by the manufacturer. – Imposed
Source: Parole Board of Canada
McFatridge said she’s outraged with the judicial system. She asks how Legge could be set free leaving her family, friends and co-workers to serve a life sentence with him living in the area.
She questions how a criminal who was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 18 years could be out of jail in 16 years — or even released at all.
“For the past 16 years on Sept. 21 my status on Facebook would be how much we all missed Ann and how so unfair life is,” McFatridge said.
She said family, friends and co-workers are now reliving the terrible memories of that dreadful night.
“It is something everyone who was so close to Ann have to live with and be reminded everyday if her murderer is able to walk free in their community,” McFatridge said. “Everyone has suffered long enough, so why can’t we have some peace?”
She remembers the day Legge was sentenced, how he showed no remorse, and wonders if he’d do it all over again.
“The parole board let him come back to Stephenville in September. Was that so he could assess where everyone was?” she asked. “I think they’re protecting the criminal and not the victim’s family.”
McFatridge wishes she would have been home for the Silent Walk for a safe community and Sisters in Spirit Vigil last Friday in Stephenville, but said her heart was there.
“Too many Indigenous women are missing or have been murdered by the hands of a vicious human being,” she said.
To her, Legge doesn’t deserve any rights and she said he’s no victim.
Though some criminals can be rehabilitated, she questions rehabilitating someone who served five sentences in federal prison.
“Dear God in heaven please keep this predator away from us,” McFatridge said.
