The King v Connor McNeill
| Jurisdiction | Northern Ireland |
| Judge | Her Honour Judge Smyth |
| Judgment Date | 13 October 2023 |
| Neutral Citation | [2023] NICC 28 |
| Court | Crown Court (Northern Ireland) |
Neutral Citation No: [2023] NICC 28
Judgment: approved by the court for handing down
(subject to editorial corrections)*
Ref: SMY12286
Delivered: 13/10/2023
IN THE CROWN COURT OF NORTHERN IRELAND
SITTING AT BELFAST
___________
THE KING
v
CONNOR McNEILL
___________
HER HONOUR JUDGE PATRICIA SMYTH
Recorder of Belfast
[1] Connor McNeill you have pleaded guilty to the murder of Stephen Barriskill.
The only sentence permissible under law for the crime of murder is life
imprisonment, and I imposed that sentence on 31 May 2023. It remains for me to
determine the minimum term of imprisonment that you must serve before you can
be considered for release by the Parole Commissioners. Article 5(2) of the Life
Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2001 prescribes that the minimum term must be
the period the court considers appropriate:
“To satisfy the requirements of retribution and deterrence
having regard to the seriousness of the offence, or the
combination of the offence and one or more offences
associated with it.”
I am also required by paragraph 25 of Schedule 1 to the Safeguarding Vulnerable
Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 to inform you that the Independent Barring
Board will include you on the barred list relating to adults by virtue of your
conviction.
[2] There is an agreed factual basis of plea which is attached to these sentencing
remarks at Appendix A. In summary, the facts are that on 26 October 2021, you
armed yourself with your legally held shotgun in which you had placed two
cartridges, walked to Mr Barriskill’s home, approximately half a mile away and shot
him twice in the chest in the bedroom where he had been sleeping.
To continue reading
Request your trial