24 February 2012 Last updated at 13:33 ET

Police call John, Kieran and Thomas Welsh 'thugs' after Holyhead attack

John Welsh, Kieran Welsh and Thomas Welsh were jailed for 12 years each at Caernarfon Crown Court

Three members of an Anglesey family have each been jailed for 12 years for attacking a former friend.

Thomas Welsh, 43, his son Kieran, 21, both of Holyhead, and 49-year-old brother John Welsh, of no fixed address, had denied injuring Alan Haigh, 43.

Caernarfon crown Court heard he was a vulnerable man with schizophrenia

North Wales Police called them "cowardly thugs" and said Holyhead was a safer place with them behind bars.

Ringleader

There were gasps and sobs from a packed public gallery as the three were jailed for inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

The court heard that Kieran Welsh armed himself with a metal bar and used it during the attack on Mr Haigh.

Sentencing the men Judge Merfyn Hughes QC said on the morning of 28 May they went out in a vehicle looking for the victim.

Judge Hughes said there was a suggestion that Thomas Welsh was the ringleader.

"But I have decided I can't pinpoint you," he added.

"In my judgement all three of you were in it together for whatever reason."

The court heard Mr Haigh had a broken elbow as a result of the attack.

Deliberately targeted

The judge told the defendants: "The victim was particularly vulnerable because of his personal circumstances. This was deliberate targeting of a vulnerable victim."

Mr Haigh, at first a prosecution witness, had retracted his original statement to police and claimed he could not remember the attack.

But a jury convicted all three men after a trial.

Speaking after case Chief Inspector Nigel Harrison of North Wales Police said: "I welcome the sentence. Holyhead is a safer place today without these three cowardly thugs who clearly thought they were above the law."