Bring back the death penalty for the sort of rubbish that commit crimes like this. Britain doesn't need them and would be better off without them, and the taxpayer shouldn't be burdened with keeping them in gaol. Kill them, get rid of them.

Chris, Derby,

I am so lucky that I am the grandson of a RAF war hero - honour and respect values were passed down which I want to live up to even if it costs me my life, like the great Frank McGarahan. To those who do not have these values, find them! if you do not respect yourself, no one else will! Leave GB.

Mark, London, England

Will the government acknowledge yet another society destructive bubble. They did not see the financial bubble even though they are responsible for the FSA. Maybe they are blind to the criminal element as they are better at massaging crime figures to look pretty. Bean counters, what a false economy!

Mark, London, England

During the short time I worked at Barclays Capital, it was a pleasure and an honor to work with Frank McGarahan. He was a decent, kind and reliable colleague. I will pray for his family and friends. Their loss is great.

Eileen M., NY, NY

A very senseless and cowardly crime. I am glad that they have these hooligans on tape and that justice will be swift and severe.

My deepest sympathies to Mr. McGarahan's family..

Louis Yun, United States,

I had the pleasure of knowing Frank and all I can say is that this is the most tragic loss ever. He was the most amazing, caring, family man to and to think that some thugs have taken his life because he tried to defend others is appalling. I hope they get what they deserve. Tara Sillery, Dubai.

Tara Sillery, Dubai, UAE

I wonder what is wrong with this country?As an international student,i was inspired by the great traditions of the nation and paying 10k+pounds/year for studying here.But most of the young people are badly educated who should be the future of the country.Honestly I won't let my children study here.

Lee, London,

The drinking joints should not be open at 3am - it's crazy. The nutters have an extra four hours drinking time after traditional opening hours to get up a head of steam.

gwilym rhys-jones, costa del sol, spain

Timesonline - I beg you, please drive a crusade to rid us of this menace. I will happily volunteer to walk the streets with like minded people and, en-mass, drive the cancer out. the government are weak so it's time for the Times to bring back true values! Let me know how I can help.

Mark, London, England

I hope this incident brings about some change in the policing of night fighting hotspots, but I also hope that it doesn't discourage others from stepping in when they think something is wrong. I was taught to always check if you think someone needs help - unfortunately you have to think twice now!

Gem, Burton-on-Trent,

Time to adopt the laws of Singapore where this type of trouble does not exist. But you can bet our Government have not got the stomach to implement this kind of law and order.

Laurie , Dover, UK

This is an absolute tragic. But it gives us a small glimmer of hope that there are still decent people who are willing to stand up. I agree that CCTV should aid police but not replace their presence on the streets. The government should make serious efforts to increase the size of the police force/

Leon Karens, London,

I had the honour of working for Mr. McGarahan and can tell you that his actions in standing up for the little guy don't surprise me a bit. He was one of the good guys. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. His passing has deeply affected Barclays and Barclays Wealth. He will be missed.

Mike, London,

Bring back capital punishement for scum like this

Nick Jones, York,

OK Absolutely no investment in Norwich until these scum are found and banged away for life, and those others who are causing misery and mayhem are also banged up. Jails too full? There are plenty of uninhabited islands off Scotland's west coast to dump them. Let us start with Norwich.

john, Glasgow, UK

Once again the replacement of beat patrols by CCTV has found another victim.
The police FORCE (not service) has to reclaim the streets. CCTV rarely prevents crimes, only assists in clearing up those already committed.

KW, Bognor Regis, England

When does this stop ,who do we vote for; is their anything more important than being able to walk about safely, should we accept being terrorized in our own country : it`s time to clean up on our own doorstep triple the size of the police force triple the size of the prisons "What ever it costs "

Robert Fitzgerald, London, UK

Last time I was in Norwich I needed to pay for parking.Only having a couple of two pound coins on me I asked a woman if she had change for the coins. She tmistook me as a homeless person, thought I was asking for money, and screamed at me to "Get Away". Maybe it's not the homeless that are the yobs

James, Liverpool, UK

I live here with my wife (US military) and it is rare to see attacks such as this in the states. Of course there is violent crime, but I feel safer walking in US streets than I do in British streets. Britain needs the courage to lock up its criminals and apply capital punishment to the worst.

Charles, Ely, UK

I am appalled by this crime, moreso that literally round the corner from the scene of the attack, is the Bethel St police station (The largest in the city centre) . You simply cannot stand up for fellow human beings these days without fear of reprisal. R.I.P Mr Mcgarahan.

Paul H, Norwich,

It is indeed a picture of Britain, that we have become all too familier with - kickings, stabings, beatings, abusing, rioting etc etc.
Police are too busy with the 'soft option' of car policiing and minor incidents that should only warrant a caution and a note to parents etc. WAKE UP!

Peter, Hove, UK

When is this apathetic nation going to collectively get off its backside and force the politicians to introduce some effective anti-yob and anti-criminal policies?

One has to be hard, ruthless and swift to deal with the scum of this country, who know only too well that they are untouchable.

Toby, York, UK

Last night l had a call from my son who lives in London to say he had been viciously attacked recently whilst walking home from work at night.
I pleaded with him to return home to safe Norwich .
He said despite this attack he loves London
l came off the 'phone and read of this .
I am appalled

carole, norwich, norfolk

How about making it illegal to drink in public? These yobs are a menace, though would be less of one if they were curbed by the authorities .This also shows the weakness of CCTV as a deterent. In times before it was used, there were less incidents like this occurring.

G Davidson, Kashiwa, Japan

Same Club in Melbourne Australia...patrons involved in a notorious shooting spree in broad daylight. Perhaps there is a mix of drink and attitudes that prevails at these places..

Clint Walsh, Geelong, Australia

So CCTV isn't working eh? Well this looks like a case where it could lead to a prosecution, and rightly so.

bill, cranborough, UK

The culprits will say they were socially deprived and under the influence of drink and drugs. They will plea bargain to manslaughter and get 3-5 years with time served to be halved for good behaviour. And a man with a 6-yo daughter and a 6-mth old baby has died.

Peter K, London, England,

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"
One can only admire Mr. McGarahan's courage at a time when, unfortunately, the law is not on the side of 'good men'.

Paul, Singapore,

When will our Politician vote for Capital punishment. Life is far too cheap in this day and age. Unless some drastic measures are taken, life will become even cheaper !!

John Lincolnshire, Boston,

Every day we step over others. Frank does not appear to have been a man to do this. I tried to do as he had done, was arrested and cautioned and had to deal with a distraught wife who wanted to know what our family would have done if the situation had gotten out of hand. My heart is with his family.

Ivor McCormack, Dublin, Ireland

Yet another waste of life due to lawlessness on our streets. A great man has died and a family is now without a father and husband. When will the government realise that a zero tolerance approach is required. Career politicians haven't a clue on reality - send them packing and get in some leaders

Mark, London, England

This is a country where good behavior is punished and the bad rewarded. It doesnt really matter what the reasons are for this state of society but all I can say that this is one democratic society where there is no justice or recourse for the ordinary good citizen.
RIP

leela malur, london, uk

Where I believe that parents should take some responsibility for the way their offsprring turn out, I think it is wrong to make a blanket statement that parents are to blame for today;s thuggery. I believe that most parents work really hard to give their children a decent upbringing..

Reuben Davies, London, United Kingdom

Brits banned guns, yet violence still occured. Banned gun knives, no, didn't work. How about banning all solid objects?

steve, london, uk

RIP Frank McGarahan.

I cannot believe the state this country is in, where are the police? Sitting in the station no doubt, filling out paperwork and arresting people for trivial offences.

Sort this mess out NOW.

Jay, Birkenhead, Merseyside

Another discraceful act in a violent and disrespectful society that has teenagers murdering each other daily, gun crime more prevalent on the streets than on TV and weekends of drunken mayhem.. and the government continues to do what exactly..NOTHING!! Bunch of flip flop policies and economic ruin.

Martin, Leeds, UK

Can you say "A Clockwork Orange?" Me bro brothers indeed.....

Wallace Carr, Atlanta, GA, usa

i was out for my birthday that night a d i know people who saw it. i walk through the city all the time and have never had any problems from anyone...maybe i should think twice about it now. norwich isnt normally a place for things like this to happen but what's happened is terrible.

rachel, Norwich,

NuLabour is directly responsible for this disgrace. Tough on the causes of crime, Father Tony and Uncle Gordon? Give us back our cities!

Mike, Bristol, UK,

Why would the Police get involved when they can achieve their quota with soft targets such as motorists or photographers going about their day to day business. Why would they put their lives on the line for Joe Public?

Dave T, Harlow, UK

Until we bring back capital punishment, thugs will just continue to get away with lawlessness and murder. And we are complaining that our prisons are full up and so expensive for the law-abiding tax payers. They wouldn't be if murdereres were hung.

David, Poole,

You have a culture of drunken lager louts who find it cool to have a drink and pull a knife or kill someone. I personally blame the parents. It all starts from home. Education and up bringing from parents is immense on how someone turns out.
The parents are to blame for this shambolic murder.

Mohammed , Middlesex, England

In clarification of Mr Gilchrist's message, there were in fact two Baptisms scheduled at St John's Cathedral, Norwich, on Sunday. The Baptism of Thea McGarahan was quite understandably postponed because of the tragic event of Sunday morning. Mr Gilchrist is referring to the second Baptism.

Rev James Walsh, Cathedral Dean, Norwich, Norfolk

A relative of mine works in a fast food place in this area of Norwich. It is routine for members of staff to be assaulted over the weekend while at work. An accepted hazard of the job . There have now been two fatalities in the last year caused by drunken fighting in Norwich city centre.

Rosa, Mulbarton, UK

We new Frank from the age of 14 before his success. Frank was always without a doubt a kind and considerate person and very well loved in our circle of friends. It is a huge shock to us all that this has happened to him and we are all deeply saddened.
Our sympathy goes out to all of his family.

Anna Fernandez, London, England

I knew Frank, you couldn't meet a nicer man, a real gentle giant. My heart goes out to his family.

David Adams, Hatfield Peverel, England

no doubt all the police officers were sitting in the canteen at wymondham HQ(25 miles away).
night shift is undermanned except thur,fri,sat when they are all down riverside or on the prince of wales road.
only thing watching the streets is CCTV and 2 blokes watching x-factor instead of monitors

simon, norwich,

"Has Britain become a nation of cowards?"
Always has been. Only ever invaded defenceless nations, preferably African/Middle Eastern, then bought the help of USA, on credit, when faced with real armies. Most brits can barely speak their own language nowadays.

David Friedson, Maidstone, Kent

Because the Courts don't reinforce Society's disapproval of anti-social behaviour, it's not brought home to offenders they are doing something very wrong and their bad behaviour continues.

Paul Neri, Canberra, Australia

This is just another statistic of a society gone beyond all moral sense!....................and where the ambiguities and deceits of government now no bounds!

Philljones, Swansea, Wales

Is our culture really dictated to us by politicians?What has this got to do with our leaders?. The UK always had a strange attitude to drinking, often culminating in stupid aggressive behaviour. Ive travelled a lot around the world but never seen anywhere half as bad as UK city centres at night!

Tim, Seoul, Korea

Chris,

There always has, and always will be, a section of the population who are immune to any feelings of empathy or morality (be they secular or religious in origin).

You are naive if you think that there was once a golden age when 'moral absolutes' protected us from criminals.

Daniel, Belfast,

Its probably a mark of the kind of man he was that he died whilst trying to help somebody else, instead of simply standing by.

(Next time some exec complains about how hard life is.....)

My thoughts are with his family. They've got to be proud of.

Martyn Taylor, Swindon, England

I proudly sang at Mr McGarahan's family Baptism on the Sunday morning of the day of his tragic death. My personal prayers and those of St John's Cathedral Norwich are for Mr McGarahan and his beloved family. The Baptism was a beauitiful sight, the family where most dignified in their faithfulnes

Mr Benjamin Grist, Norwich, England

Drunken yobs are making our cities no go areas for decent people. Police should adopt shock tactics and arrest every one in a particular area where behaviour regularly gets out of hand, lock them all up for 48 hours, then tell them all that it is 6 months behind bars if they are arrested again.

Frank, Leeds, England

Frank has the courage to intervene. I am worried that even when the police catch the killer the court will only give him 5 years in prison because prisons are full.
Killers should be locked forever.

Amin abouelfath, KIRKCALDY, Scotland

I agree Tom - CCTV is only a resource it cant replace Police Constables Patrolling Streets. When the police feel that arresting someone isnt pointless and that the courts award punishment without better discounts and deals than high street stores we will all be safer. "Accountable with Consequences"

Mark, Edinburgh,

What a pathetic response by Richard Evans "don't get involved" -

Thankfully there are still people with morals and guts like Mr McGarahan who are prepared to intervene on the side of those being attacked, harassed or bullied. Has Britain become a nation of cowards?

Domnal MacLochlainn, London, UK

That's not John Norwich who wrote the book on Byzantium is it?
Anyway, why are you so shocked - look in the mirror Britain, this is what you have become. Think, why do you let 14 year olds drink and go on holiday on their own and then are surprised when civility collapses?

cks, Suburbia,

If the police say the area is notorious for street drinking and drunkenness then why haven't they done anything? All I can advise anyone is if you see an incident, call the police. FIlm it on your camera phone. Shout for help. But don't get involved.

Richard Evans, Herts, UK

Welcome again to Evolution Britain where there is no morality and no value on life because there are no moral absolutes and accountability anymore. Thank you our illustious leaders for destroying our foundations. You will answer for this just as surely as the perpetrators will, oh yes, one day.

Chris Williams, Bridgend, UK

At what point do we admit that CCTV isn't working and that we need to arrest and punish the drunken thugs who behave like this in our town and city centres every Friday and Saturday night so that it puts such a fear of the law into them that they actually fear the consequences.

Tom, Chertsey, UK

This is absolutely appalling. Norwich is an oasis of calm and peace where people are respectful and polite to each other. But there is an increasing nunber of obvious druggies,drunks and yobs in the city. They should be taken off the streets now before the contagion spreads.

John , Norwich,