Man jailed for murder of retired RUC reservist

A Co Armagh man has been sentenced to life for the murder of a 57-year-old former RUC reservist nearly three years ago.

A Co Armagh man has been sentenced to life for the murder of a 57-year-old former RUC reservist nearly three years ago.

Cyril Stewart was gunned down in front of his wife in the car park of Safeways supermarket in Armagh on the evening of March 27th, 1998.

Lord Justice Nicholson had earlier convicted 25-year-old Neil Sheridan from Callanbridge Park, Armagh of the murder of the retired police officer.

"I am satisfied you were the cold-blooded killer of Mr. Stewart," the judge said at Belfast Crown Court.

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"You shot him down at point blank range and continued to fire at him as he lay dying on the ground.

"That you did so in front of his wife makes your crime all the more wicked."

During the trial the court heard witnesses had seen the couple approached by two gunmen, one of whom fired a number of shots at Mr Stewart, and after he fell to the ground further shots were fired at him.

Following the shooting and the escape of the two men, clothing worn by them was found in a wheelie bin a short distance away.

This morning Lord Justice Nicholson said he was satisfied from forensic evidence and from Sheridan's fingerprint found on a bag in the bin that he was the gunman who had shot Mr Stewart.

The judge went on: "In my opinion you are a danger to the public and will continue to be so for a long time to come".

In November, 1999, 25-year-old Barry Morgan, also from Armagh, was jailed for life for the murder of Mr. Stewart.

He has since been freed under the early release scheme.