Lawyers for four men guilty of the sectarian murder of a Catholic schoolboy in Co Antrim today urged a Crown Court judge to show leniency when sentencing them.
The four face lengthy jail terms for killing 15-year-old Michael McIlveen in Ballymena in May 2006.
Michael, known to friends and family as Micky Bo, was punched, kicked and beaten with a baseball bat in an alleyway of the town after a row involving a group of Protestant teenagers. He died hours later in hospital.
Last month Aaron Wallace (20), of Moat Road in the town, Christopher Kerr (22), of Carnduff Drive and Jeff Lewis, 19, of Rossdale were found guilty of murder at Antrim Crown Court.
At the start of the trial Mervyn Moon (20), of Douglas Terrace, Ballymena pleaded guilty to murder.
Three other men involved on the night of the attack also stood alongside the four defendants in the same court room in Antrim today for the sentencing hearing.
Christopher McLeister (18), of Knockeen Crescent, Ballymena, was convicted of manslaughter.
Paul Henson (18), of Condiere Avenue was found guilty of affray and criminal damage while Peter McMullen (18), of Meadowvale, who the jury cleared of murder by direction of the court, had admitted causing criminal damage.
Senior Counsel for all seven men called on Mr Justice Treacy to take into account their relative youth at the time of the incident when handing down sentences.
After the application pleas the judge said he would need time to consider what sentences he will impose and said he would deliver his decision at a later date.
Members of the McIlveen family were among those in the packed court for the two-and-a-half-hour hearing.