Terrorists jailed for gun attack on soldier
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.(First Edition)
Two men were each jailed for 25 years yesterday for attempting to murder a soldier in the Lower Falls area of Belfast.
Kevin McCann, 27, and Brendan McAnoy, 31, were convicted of shooting a soldier in the head with a shotgun while he was on patrol in Dunville Street in February last year.
Belfast Crown Court heard the soldier's helmet took the full impact of the shot and saved his life.
McAnoy and McCann were captured moments later in McCann's family home in nearby Lower Clonard Street, West Belfast, after another soldier spotted them running away.
The attack had been launched from a house in Dunville Street where a family of three had been held captive overnight.
Security forces found a shotgun beside a pair of step ladders, which had been used as a gun platform.
Mr Justice Pringle, jailing the pair, said that sentences for terrorist crime would 'go up and up' as long as terrorists failed to learn the lesson that their conduct could not and would not be tolerated.
McAnoy, who shouted 'Up the IRA' as he left the dock, and McCann were given concurrent jail terms ranging from 15 to 18 years for wounding the soldier, having the shotgun and holding the family hostage.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments