Five Men Jailed For Murder Of Ian Ogle In East Belfast

Five men have been sentenced at Belfast Crown Court today for the murder of 45-year-old Ian Ogle, who was attacked in east Belfast in January 2019.

Mark Sewell, 46, and Jonathan Brown, 39, who both previously pleaded guilty to murder, were each sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 and a half years before they can apply for release.

Glenn Rainey, 38, Walter Allen Ervine, 43, and Robert Spiers, 42, were all found guilty of murder following a non-jury trial. Each man was sentenced to life imprisonment and must serve a minimum of 20 years before being eligible to apply for release.

In addition to the murder convictions, Christopher Haire, 55, who pleaded guilty to assisting offenders, received a two-year prison sentence suspended for three years. Thomas McCartney, 37, who also pleaded guilty to assisting offenders, was handed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for three years. Jill Brown née Morrison, 42, who admitted to assisting offenders, received an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for three years. Reece Kirkwood, 27, who pleaded guilty to withholding information concerning an arrestable offence, was given a two-year prison sentence, also suspended for three years. Detective Inspector Michelle Griffin, speaking after the sentencing, said her thoughts were with the Ogle family. "First and foremost, my thoughts today are with the family of Ian Ogle who are still very much coming to terms with the tragic loss of their beloved husband and father," she stated.

Describing the crime, Detective Inspector Griffin said, "This was a senseless, brutal crime by a group of people who fractured Ian's skull and stabbed him 11 times in the back before fleeing and leaving him to die on the street."

She expressed her dismay at the number of people involved: "It is distressing to think that such a large group of people could have been complicit in such an orchestrated, targeted crime."

Detective Inspector Griffin also highlighted the community's reaction and the support for the Ogle family. "This has been widely condemned by the local community, who remain disgusted by the actions of these individuals and I know that the Ogle family have been deeply appreciative of the ongoing support they have felt from people in their local area."

She concluded by acknowledging the work of the investigation team and the Public Prosecution Service, stating, "Today, thanks to our dedicated investigation team and working in partnership with colleagues in the Public Prosecution Service, these defendants have been held accountable for their actions that night."

"Today's sentencings signify the end of the judicial process however I am very mindful that Ian's family live with the pain and anguish of what happened to him every single day. My thoughts remain firmly with them," added Detective Inspector Griffin.