SEVEN men who murdered a father in Greenock, shooting him on the doorstep of his home, have been jailed for life.
Neil Canney, or Wilson, was left seriously injured following the attack on Nairn Road around 1.15am on 28 February 2023. The 37-year-old was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, but died a short time later.
A number of other people, including children, were present in the house when eight bullets were fired towards the property.
Following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow, Brendan Balloch, 25, Jack Benson, 24, Kieran Hendry, 26, Martin McCusker, 41, Michael Munro, 28, and Dale Russell, 31, were all found guilty of being involved in the fatal shooting.
The murder charge was aggravated because of their involvement in serious organised crime.
The six men were also found guilty of attempted murder while Russell was further convicted of being in possession of a machete on the night of the killing.
A seventh man, Kieran Meechan, 29, earlier pled guilty to a charge of murder, which was aggravated due to his involvement in serious organised crime.
The prosecutor led a variety of evidence at the trial including eyewitness accounts, ballistics, DNA, CCTV, mobile phone communications and cell site data.
Balloch was jailed for a minimum of 21 years while Benson, Hendry, McCusker, Munro, Russell and Meechan received punishment terms of 20, 21, 23, 21, 24 and 17 years respectively.
Moira Orr, who leads on homicide and major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “Neil Canney’s murder was a brazen shooting deliberately carried out by these individuals, who were acting together following extensive planning.
“Their reckless actions have robbed the victim’s family of a future with their loved one while also putting the lives of several others, including children, in serious danger. It is only by luck that no one else was hit by any of the bullets that were indiscriminately fired into a busy household that night.
“This was a lengthy and complex investigation which saw our specialist prosecutors work closely with Police Scotland to identify those responsible and ensure they were held accountable.
“This prosecution should send a strong message to others involved in this kind of criminal behaviour — you cannot hide from justice, and we will use all the tools available to us as we strive to keep the communities we serve safe.
“As a member of Scotland’s Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce, the Crown will continue working with the police and other agencies to ensure that these crimes are detected and perpetrators prosecuted.”
Detective Chief Inspector Graham McCreadie said: “This was a truly shocking and traumatic attack that took place in the community, and many people who knew Mr Canney witnessed the attack.
“This attack was planned and this conviction sends a strong message that those involved in such crimes will face the consequences of their callous and cowardly actions. I hope that this sentence brings some degree of closure to his family and friends and our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.
“This was a complex investigation. I would like to thank all officers for their dedication and commitment throughout and those members of the public who assisted with our enquiries.
“Thankfully violent crimes like these in public places are rare. When such incidents take place, we will use all resources necessary to carry out thorough, rigorous inquiries to ensure we track down those responsible to bring them to justice, no matter their part in a crime.”
