Soldier killer may serve 30 years

Michael McAleavey killed three other Irish Army soldiers

A Belfast soldier who murdered three of his Irish army colleagues may have to serve a further four years in jail before being considered for parole.

Michael McAleavey was sentenced to life by an Irish military court for killing Peter Burke, Thomas Murphy and Gary Morrow in Lebanon in 1982.

McAleavey, who has been imprisoned for 26 years, wants the court to decide how long he has to serve.

The lord chief justice said 30 years would not be inappropriate.

Sir Brian Kerr said these included the fact that the victims were public servants, and that the shooting had resulted in multiple murders.

A defence barrister argued that the Irish government had already considered McAleavey for release in the mid 1990s.

That process was suspended after McAleavey, who is now 47, broke its terms.

Sir Brian said he would take time to consider carefully all the evidence in the case, in particular the victim impact reports, submitted on behalf of the victims' families.

A decision on the tariff is expected within two weeks.

Once the tariff has been served, it will be up to the Life Sentence Review Body to consider whether McAleavey is suitable for release.

McAleavey is one of the longest serving prisoners in Ireland.

Last year, he transferred to prison in Northern Ireland to be near his family.