Double killers lose appeals

Railway Bar, Poyntzpass: Scene of double murder

Two men jailed for the double murder of lifelong friends three years ago have lost their appeals against their convictions.

Stephen McClean, 31, from Hillside Park, Banbridge, and Noel McCready, 34, from Dickson Park, Seapatrick, were jailed for life in February last year.

They had been sent to prison for murdering Protestant Philip Allen and Damian Trainor, a Catholic, in the Railway Bar, in Poyntzpass in County Armagh in 1998.

Damien Trainor: Died in pub

McClean and McCready were due to be released last July under the early release terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

However, their licences were revoked after they were charged with attempted murder while out on parole.

In a reserved judgement on Thursday, the Lord Chief Justice Sir Robert Carswell said the trial judge, Mr Justice Kerr, was fully entitled to draw adverse inferences against the two men when they did not give evidence.

Philip Allen: Gunned down

"We do not consider that there is any substance in the criticisms by the appellants' counsel of the inferences drawn by the judge," said the Lord Chief Justice.

"On the contrary, we are satisfied that no other or less damaging inference could sensibly be drawn."

On sentencing them to life last February the judge said the murders had been "among the most heinous ever committed" in the province.