Two men found guilty over 'carefully planned and brutal' murder of Malcolm McKeown
Convicted criminal Malcolm McKeown, 54, who was shot dead whilst sitting in his BMW parked at a service station in Warington Co Armagh in August of that year.
Jake O'Brien, 30, from Rectory Road in Lurgan, County Armagh, and Andrew Thomas Kenneth Martin of Bridge Street in Banbridge, County Down, were both found guilty at Belfast Crown Court on Friday.
Two others- Stevie Lee Watson, 36, from Princeton Avenue in Lurgan and 36-year-old Simon Smyth from Hazelgrove Avenue in Lurgan were both acquitted of murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.
All four had previously denied involvement.
While the two men will serve life sentences for the killing, the length of time will be decided at a later date.
The court heard how 54 year old McKeown who'd been in prison days earlier, had been shot multiple times at close range in the head and body.
A forensic expert who examined the scene in the aftermath of the murder determined that at least 16 cartridges were fired from a minimum of two guns.
Two young boys riding their bikes found Mr McKeown's body.
The judge, Mr. Justice Fowler said the killing "had all the hallmarks of a carefully planned and brutal assassination."
He said he was "satisfied that the two shooters were O'Brien and Martin."
It was also heard that Mr McKeown was involved in a feud with a criminal organisation known as 'The firm'
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Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A YOUNG woman who was on FaceTime with her best pal when she was killed in a car crash says she'll be haunted by the memory forever. Ebony Neville heard tragic work colleague Stephanie Nye-Diroyan suddenly scream as the video call cut out. 9 Ivan Zailac and Stephanie Nye-Diroyan (right) just seconds before the fatal crash Credit: Ebony Neville 9 Stephanie, 21, was killed in the horror collision Credit: Central News 9 Ebony Neville (left) and Stephanie were best pals, having met at work months before Credit: Ebony Neville The 21-year-old then began frantically trying to call her friend back before getting into her own car and driving along the same route, eventually coming across the crash site. Stephanie, 21, was a passenger in a BMW being driven by another work colleague, Ivan Zaliac, 24, when they ploughed into a lorry at nearly 100mph on Mollison Avenue, in Enfield North London. Ebony told The Sun: "Seconds before the phone cut out you could hear the engine revving and Stephanie's scream - then it froze on her face." She added: 'I tried to ring her back - I don't know what I was thinking had happened. READ MORE NEWS DEATH SMASH Sales exec killed colleague in 100mph horror crash - but walks free from court 'I then got in my car and I didn't know where to go, I knew that they were in Brimsdown, in that local area, but I had no idea where.' Zaliac - who walked free from court last month after being deemed unfit to stand trial - had been giving Stephanie a lift on October 23 2022 after they finished work at nearby second hand car dealership Big Motoring World. Ebony was ill that day and Stephanie had agreed to stop off to see her on her way home when she died. The crash happened at 7.54pm. 'It was literally a quick call,' explained Ebony. 'She worked that day - it was a Sunday - and I wasn't in. 'It was a quick catch up, really. A catch up with a friend, that's all. She was such a good friend, she'd been non-stop checking in throughout the day - but couldn't ring me until she finished work. 'We were on the phone and then it froze on Stephanie's face, and the call cut out.' Three pedestrians injured by falling rubble as van crashes through multi-storey car park wall in UK city centre She added: 'I then rang her personal phone. I also rang Ivan's phone, both were disconnected and were being put through to voicemail.' Ebony said she waited 20 minutes and was 'still ringing during this time… just to try and find out what had happened'. She rang the police and found out there'd been a 'bad crash' in Brimsdown so 'drove around'. 'It wasn't too far from my house, it was about an 11-minute drive,' Ebony said. 'The road was blocked off. I hadn't been told who was involved in the crash or what had happened. 'I wasn't allowed to know any information.' She was then directed to The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel in the East End, where Stephanie had been taken. Holding back tears, Ebony said: 'I did everything I could that day and I wouldn't change anything. I went to the hospital… I wasn't allowed to know anything without Stephanie's mother knowing first.' 9 Zailac was deemed unfit to stand trial earlier this month Credit: Central News 9 Mollison Avenue in Brimsdown where the crash took place Credit: Google Maps 9 Stephanie and her mum Nicholle Diroyan (left) Credit: Ebony Neville A screen shot she captured of Stephanie during the call, a few minutes before the crash, was shown in court. Ebony took to the stand to give evidence. She said: 'I was quite upset and ran out of the room immediately afterwards, and put myself together before returning.' Zailac suffers from amnesia and doesn't remember the details of what happened after suffering a brain injury in the collision and subsequent psychiatric issues. He had been ruled unfit to stand trial so the jury had to formally decide whether he did the act alleged, namely causing Stephanie's death by dangerous driving. The jury then found he did carry out the act. Judge Sarah Munro, KC, said Zailac will be supervised by a nominated social worker and the Hillingdon mental health team for two years. 'This is the only way your mental health can be restored in order for a decision to be made as to whether there are further legal consequences for you to face,' the judge said. Prosecutor Frederick Hookway told the court that the Crown intends to put Zailac on trial if he recovers. 'The objective of this order is for the improvement of the defendant's mental health not only for his own sake but for the future of these proceedings,' he said. 'The crown do intend to reinstitute these proceedings when and if appropriate.' Stephanie's mum Nicholle Diroyan sobbed as she read her victim impact statement at the Old Bailey on July 7. She said: 'The pain of losing her is immeasurable and every day without her feels incomplete.' Ebony, who now lives in Manchester, has launched a petition to try and ensure Stephanie's family get justice. 'There's been three years of constant delays and adjournments - and now we're told it'll be 2027 before we know if Ivan can even stand trial. 'It's the waiting. We're left in the dark.'. 'I feel so sorry for Stephanie's mum Nicholle - who's always at the court but then left frustrated each time.' Ebony added: 'We were told the jury returned a verdict in a record time. Quickest for death by dangerous driving for 27 years. 'Despite this clear outcome, family and friends are waiting for justice.' Referring to the two-year order, she said: 'It's a deterrent of the law, rather than an enforcement.' She added: 'That grievance, when everything is brought back up. I'm quite shaky on this call, it's traumatic to relive the tragic crash and death of Stephanie.' Ebony went on to say: 'Stephanie was the most lovely, genuine, outgoing person. She was there for her friends, she was there for her family. 'If anyone needed her, she'd message, she'd ring, she'd be there for you. To see her face in the newspaper in such a tragic way, and yet we're still yet to receive any justice, is so heartbreaking.' Stephanie had hired Ebony several months before, and was her manager before being promoted to the finance department shortly prior to her death. 'We became friends so quickly,' she said. 'The week before she died we were in Manchester and Nottingham, just enjoying ourselves. 'I was always going round to hers and picking her up or going for lunch break. 'Sometimes we'd get a takeaway into work and would be sitting there with 10 different Greggs items. She was amazing.' Ebony added: 'We believe she's looking down on us so proud of us all.' For more on Ebony's petition see here. Do you know more? Email 9 Ebony had rushed out in her own car after learning about the crash Credit: Ebony Neville 9 Stephanie with her pals Ella, Mia and Millie on a night out Credit: Ebony Neville
