Man handed life sentence after confessing to murder of Paul Smyth in Lisburn

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A 31-year old man was handed a life sentence today (Tuesday) after he confessed to murdering Lisburn man Paul Smyth.

James Andrew Thomas McVeigh appeared at Belfast Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to murdering the 50-year old, who was found dead in the living room of his Coulson Avenue home on June 23, 2019.

Mr Smyth's loved ones attended today's hearing and sat in the public gallery where they heard McVeigh admit to his murder.

McVeigh was one of five people due to stand trial on charges arising from Mr Smyth's murder and a second gun attack at a house on Mill Street the same month.

Last week two men pleaded guilty to offences linked to the incidents, while a woman was acquitted on a charge of withholding information concerning an arrestable offence.

McVeigh and co-accused James Holmes were due to stand trial today on charges including murdering Mr Smyth, and attempting to murder a couple whose Mill Street home was shot at on June 23, 2019.

McVeigh, whose address was given as Maghaberry, was charged with seven offences he initially denied.

Upon the request of his barrister, when a charge of murdering Mr Smyth on a date between June 17 and 22, 2019 was put to McVeigh again, he replied 'guilty.'

He also admitted possessing a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life on a date between June 17 and 22, 2019, and of possessing a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition in suspicious circumstances on June 25, 2019.

Following the pleas to three offences, Crown barrister Neil Connor QC told the judge that four remaining counts against McVeigh - including attempting to murder the couple at Mill Street - would not be proceeded with.

After admitting the murder charge, McVeigh was addressed by Mr Justice Colton, who told him: "Having pleaded to the offence of murder, I am obliged by law to impose a sentence of life imprisonment on you.

"In due course I will set a date for a hearing in which I will set the minimum tariff you must serve before you can apply for release on licence."

Co-accused James Holmes, from Lawnmount Crescent in Lisburn, was also due to stand trial on six charges including murdering Mr Smyth.

He was also re-arraigned today and pleaded guilty to three offences - namely possessing the sawn-off shotgun and ammunition in suspicious circumstances on June 25, 2019, and two counts of attempted murder on June 23, 2019 arising from the gun attack at Mill Street.

When these charges were put to Holmes, he replied 'guilty' to all three.

This prompted Mr Connor to inform Mr Justice Colton that the remaining charges against Holmes, including murdering Mr Smyth, would not be proceeded with.

Last week McVeigh and Holmes appeared in the dock with three other co-accused, and a jury was sworn to preside over the trial.

However, before the trial commenced and in the absence of the jury, two of the defendants changed their pleas.

James Robert Stewart, whose address was given as Maghaberry, admitted two firearms offences.

The 31-year old pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life between June 17 and 22, 2019, and to possessing a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition in suspicious circumstances on June 25, 2019.

After entering the guilty pleas last Thursday, Stewart was remanded back into custody ahead of sentencing.

Ryan Mark Megarry (38) from Salia Avenue in Carrickfergus also changed his plea last week on a charge of encouraging or assisting offenders.

Megarry admitted that on June 18, 2019 he used his vehicle for reconnaisance in Coulson Avenue and identified Paul Smyth and his home to other parties which was capable of encouraging or assisting the commission of one of more offences, namely burglary or theft.

Following Megarry's plea, his barrister asked that he be released on contining bail. This was granted by Mr Justice Colton, who ordered Megarry to return to court for sentencing.

The fifth and final defendant - Christina Flanaghan from Longstone Street in Lisburn - was charged with, and denied withholding information on dates between June 17 and 22, 2019 by failing to provide information to police which could lead to an arrest.

At the request of her legal team, the 30-year old was formally acquitted by a jury of the charge.

The 12 members of the jury were spoken to Mr Justice Colton, who ordered them to return a verdict of 'not guilty by direction of the Judge' against Flanaghan after the Crown offered no evidence against her.

Following the admissions by Stewart and Megarry last week, and by Holmes and McVeigh today, a date for the plea hearing was set for Friday November 12.

Mr Justice Colton imposed a life sentence on McVeigh, who was remanded back to Maghaberry alongside Holmes.