A young man convicted in relation to the burning to death of the three Quinn brothers after a petrol bomb attack on their home was jailed yesterday for 14 years.
Garfield Gilmour (25), from Newhill Park, Ballymoney, Co Antrim was sentenced at the Court of Appeal in Belfast. On appeal he had been found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.
Richard Quinn (11) and his brothers Mark (10) and Jason (9) died in a petrol bomb attack on their home at Carnany Park, Ballymoney on July 12th, 1998.
Gilmour was found guilty of the three murders last October but Lord Justice McCollum's verdict was overturned on appeal last week.
The three appeal judges - the Lord Chief Justice, Sir Robert Carswell, Lord Justice Nicholson and Mr Justice Coghlin - substituted a verdict of manslaughter.
Sentencing was reserved until yesterday when Sir Robert referred to adverse newspaper comment that their decision "played down" the threat posed by throwing petrol bombs into houses.
"That is a complete misunderstanding," he said. " But lest there be any doubt, we make it clear that we abominate attacks by petrol bombs on dwelling houses.
"We are resolved to bring the full weight of the law down on any person guilty of such a bombing."
Gilmour had admitted driving UVF men to the estate but denied knowing their intention was to petrol bomb the Quinn house.
Pleading for a lenient sentence, Mr Arthur Harvey QC said Gilmour's knowledge of what was happening was confined to a few seconds before the bomb was hurled into the house.
"I urge the court to impose a sentence reflecting his culpability, not that of the principals," said Mr Harvey.
Sir Robert Carswell accepted that Gilmour only became aware of the intentions of the others at a late stage but he did know that some incident was being prepared in connection with the UVF.
"He was an accessory, not a principal in this crime but the act of the principals resulted in the deaths of three young people," he said, sentencing Gilmour to a deterrent sentence of 14 years.
Gilmour has already spent two years in custody on remand and with full remission of 50 per cent for good conduct should be free in 2005.