Seven men guilty of doorstep murder in Greenock

Neil Canney was shot on his doorstep while his family hid inside the home

Seven men have been convicted of the murder of a 37-year-old man who was shot on his doorstep in Greenock.

Neil Canney was targeted on 28 February 2023. He had gone to his front door, thinking a friend was among a group standing outside.

The gang responsible for his death fired several shots, as Mr Canney's relatives hid inside the property, and were apprehended following a major police investigation.

Following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow, Jack Benson, 24, Dale Russell, 31, Martin McCusker, 41, Brendan Balloch, 25, Kieran Hendry, 26, and Michael Munro, 27, have now been convicted of murder.

Kieran Meechan, 29, had pleaded guilty to the same charge before the trial started.

The other six were also found guilty of attempted murder.

Prosecutors stated it was not known who had pulled the trigger - but that the assailants had all teamed up in a "criminal plan" to target Mr Canney.

They will be sentenced in September - in Scotland a life sentence must be given for murder.

The attack took place at about 01:15 and Mr Canney was taken to hospital, where he died a short time later.

Det Ch Insp Graham McCreadie called it a "shocking and traumatic" attack which was witnessed by many people who knew Mr Canney.

He said: "Thankfully violent crimes like these in public places are rare.

"When such incidents take place, we will use all resources necessary to carry out thorough, rigorous inquiries to ensure we track down those responsible to bring them to justice, no matter your part in a crime."

Jack Benson (left) and Brendan Balloch (right) - two of the seven men convicted of murder

Mr Canney's mother, Georgina Canney, told the trial how he had been staying with her at the time of the attack.

Her elder son David and other relatives had also been there that evening.

The 62-year-old described how her granddaughter had noticed people in the street, telling jurors: "I looked out. There were five figures at the bottom of the stairs and one at the side of my car on a bike."

She said Mr Canney went to the door, believing one of the group was a friend, but then she heard a series of loud bangs and immediately "grabbed" two children who were in the house.

The court heard how she called on her granddaughter to "get everyone on the floor" in the kitchen and they hid behind a freezer.

Ms Canney recalled that her son was lying on the hall floor on his front with "a lot of blood about".

Despite being a first-aider, she said she had been too traumatised to turn him onto his back.

Mr Canney died from a single gunshot wound to the head, though prosecutor Alan Cameron said eight bullets had been fired into the house.

He said: "It is simply not possible, on the evidence we have, to say with any degree of certainty who fired the gun."

Martin McCusker (left) and Dale Russell (right) - the latter attempted to headbutt a police officer in court

The six on trial had denied being involved.

The court heard that Benson had transported Russell and McCusker in his car from Lanarkshire to take part in the shooting and then help them escape.

It was claimed he had later lied to police in a bid to cover up his involvement in cocaine dealing.

Russell was said to have boasted about what happened. There was further evidence of £40 being received for "a good turn".

Gunshot residue was discovered on items of clothing of a number of the gang – including on designer jackets belonging to Munro and Hendry.

After the verdicts, Mr Cameron revealed all of those on trial – other than Hendry and Munro – had criminal records.

Russell had the worst, including a number of crimes of violence as well as robbery.

In a rare turn of events, the trial went ahead without Russell in the dock following chaotic scenes before evidence began.

On one occasion he had to be physically hauled into court by a number of police officers wearing protective riot gear - one of whom Russell tried to headbutt.

Lady Drummond continued remand for all seven as the case was adjourned for reports.