Murder details revealed in court

David McIlwaine and Andrew Robb were killed in February 2000

A man who had been due to stand trial for the murders of two men in Tandragee eight years ago has given a detailed account of what happened that night.

David McIlwaine, 18, and Andrew Robb, 19, were stabbed in February 2000.

A murder charge against Mark Burcombe, 27, from Ballynahinch Road in Lisburn was shelved in April after he agreed to give evidence against his co-accused.

He has been convicted of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Robb and appeared in court to be sentenced.

In Belfast Crown Court on Monday, his statement to police in relation to the events of that night was read out.

It revealed that the teenagers were singled out at a house party in Tandragee after Andrew Robb made a dismissive remark about the murder of Portadown UVF leader Richard Jamieson, who had been killed as part of a loyalist feud.

Burcombe said he believed Andrew Robb was to be assaulted but had had no foreknowledge of the murder plan.

He said he had no idea that David McIlwaine was to be touched.

He is to give evidence against a co-accused in a murder trial scheduled for the autumn.

Relatives of the dead men are angry at a deal to shelve Burcombe's murder charge in return for his giving evidence at the murder trial of another man.

They have described the process as "a sham".

Burcombe will be sentenced later.