Maria McConnell’s murderer to serve 15 years

A 22-year-old Belfast man who admitted carrying out the murder of Maria McConnell has been handed down a 15-year jail sentence.

Connor McCrory, of Grangeville Gardens in Finaghy was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court on Thursday May 2 for the murder of Maria McConnell two years ago.

Mr Justice Higgins said the fact that the defendant's decision to change his plea to guilty had worked in his favour but added it must be balanced with Mr McCrory’s “cold and callous actions” when he denied that he knew anything about her whereabouts during the time she was missing.

The sentencing came nearly a month after he pleaded guilty to what the judge described as a “brutal and callous” murder.

Maria, 22, from Coolnasilla Park East, off the Glen Road in Belfast, was found dead in a house after being reported as missing for nearly two weeks.

She disappeared after visiting a Belfast nightclub on 14 July 2000.

Her body was eventually found by police 13 days later in a terraced house at Canterbury Street in the university area of Belfast.

The court heard how a burglar had initially discovered Maria's naked body bound and gagged lying face down on a blood-soaked bed. The court also heard that Maria had been found with her hands tied behind her back. She had been hit over the head with a portable CD player and a metal chair.

Speaking on Thursday Justice Higgins stressed that having served the specified period did not necessarily mean McCrory would be freed.

(AMcE)