The man found guilty of the Massereene Barracks killings in which two British soldiers were murdered has been told he must serve a minimum of
25 years in jail.
Brian Shivers, 46, from Magherafelt in County Derry was convicted last month of the murders of Mark Quinsey, 23, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, in March 2009. Shivers, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, is terminally ill.
Sentencing Shivers, Judge Anthony Hart said: "Whilst he played a lesser role than the gunmen and driver of the attack car, by setting fire to the car he played a prominent and essential role in this carefully planned and ruthlessly executed crime.
"Those who carry out such heinous crimes would not be able to do so without the assistance of others who play a vital part in helping the main
participants to escape afterwards, and conceal or destroy evidence.
On Mr. Shivers' health, the judge added: "The appropriate approach for the court to take is to proceed on the basis that such matters are irrelevant to sentencing, provided that the court is satisfied that there are available appropriate facilities within the prison to allow for such conditions to be properly dealt with.
"Should it be the case that Shivers' condition deteriorates to such an extent that it may no longer be appropriate for him to be kept in prison that is a matter to be decided if and when it arises by the prison authorities in the first place, and ultimately by the minister of justice as the minister responsible for the prison service and the exercise of the Royal Prerogative." As Mr. Shivers turned to leave the court and begin his sentence, members in the public gallery raised their thumbs at him.
Shivers' co-accused, Colin Duffy, 44, from Lurgan, was earlier acquitted of murdering the two soldiers.
