Seven men have been jailed after a jury found them guilty of the murder of 37-year-old Neil Canney, who was shot on his mother’s doorstep as family members hid inside their home in Greenock, Scotland.
Sentencing at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday, Lord Justice Clerk Lady Drummond described the attack as a "brutal attack planned in advance." Kieran Meechan (29) had pleaded guilty to murder before the trial and was jailed for 17 years. The six defendants convicted after the trial received minimum terms ranging from 20 to 24 years: Dale Russell (31) was jailed for 24 years, Martin McCusker (41) for 23 years, Jack Benson (24) for a minimum of 20 years, and Brendan Balloch (25), Kieran Hendry (26) and Michael Munro (27) each received minimum 21-year terms. The six who were present at trial were also found guilty of attempted murder.
Prosecutors said Mr. Canney was targeted at about 01:15 on Feb. 28, 2023, on Nairn Road in Upper Larkfield, Greenock. He opened his front door believing one of the group outside was a friend; eight bullets were fired into the house and one struck him in the head. Mr. Canney was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow where he later died of his injuries.
His mother, Georgina Canney (62), told jurors that she had been at home with relatives and grandchildren when they noticed people in the street. She described looking out and seeing figures on the stairs and by a car, and said her son went to the door believing a friend was there. She recounted hearing a series of loud bangs, grabbing two children and ordering everyone to the floor, where they hid behind a freezer. Although she is a trained first aider, she said she had been too traumatised at the scene to attempt resuscitation and found her son lying on the hall floor.
Prosecutor Alan Cameron told the court that, on the evidence available, it was not possible to say with certainty which of the men had fired the fatal shot, but that the attack was carried out as part of a criminal plan. Evidence presented at trial included testimony that Benson had transported Russell and McCusker from Lanarkshire to take part in the shooting and to assist their escape. Investigators recovered gunshot residue on items of clothing belonging to several members of the group, including jackets linked to Munro and Hendry. The court heard of messages and payments discussed in the aftermath, including an instance where £40 was received for what was described as "a good turn."
Crown counsel said that, apart from Hendry and Munro, those on trial had previous convictions. Russell's record was described as the most serious, including multiple violent offences and robbery. The trial itself saw tense moments: Russell, who was not present in the dock during part of proceedings, had on at least one occasion to be forcibly brought into court by officers in protective gear, and is said to have attempted to headbutt a police officer.
Detective Chief Inspector Graham McCreadie called the killing a "shocking and traumatic" attack that was witnessed by people who knew Mr. Canney. He said investigators had pursued a thorough inquiry to identify and prosecute those responsible and that such violent public incidents remain rare.
The convictions follow a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. Prosecutors presented a case that the killings and surrounding offences were the result of coordinated actions by the group. The judge imposed the minimum terms after considering the planning and severity of the attack, and the sentences reflect the court’s view of the roles played by each defendant. Police said inquiries had been extensive and that they would continue to work to provide answers for the victim’s family.