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IRA gunman jailed for Christmas attack on wife

An IRA man who attacked his wife in a drunken rage on Christmas Day has been jailed.

Belfast Crown Court heard Paul norney (55) also set fire to his wife's car three days later when she refused to let him in to her west Belfast house.

A drunken, "aggressive" norney had gone to the St James's Place home of his wife, Sinn Fein councillor Briege Brownlee, where the pair had an argument in the kitchen.

Prosecuting lawyer Robin Steer recounted how Norney "shouted" into his wife's face, pushed her across the table and that when she took the phone from the wall, he grabbed it from her and threw it against the wall while "shouting abuse".

The lawyer said access to their children, who witnessed the incident, seemed to be the reason for the argument.

Having smashed the phone, Norney left but tried to kick the door in after it had been closed and Mr Steer revealed that Ms Brownlee took out a non-molestation order against her husband.

Three days later, however, norney came back to her home and "flew into a rage" and tried to kick the door in again when she told him about the court order and refused to let him in.

Mr Steer said Norney shouted "this is f****** it, I'm burning the house down". Shortly afterwards, Ms Brownlee "realised that her car was on fire".

Officers arrested a "sobbing" Norney at his sister's house nearby and, although he refused to answer police questions during interview, he

"appeared to become upset and emotional". Norney, whose address was given as c/o Maghaberry Prison, later pleaded guilty to common assault, arson, making a threat to damage property, criminal damage and two charges of attempting to cause criminal damage.

The offences were aggravated, submitted Mr Steer because norney had two previous convictions for domestic violence against his wife.

He was sentenced to 20 months.

Former IRA gunman Norney spent 20 years in an English jail for trying to kill a police officer.

* DOMESTIC DISPUTE: Paul Norney and Briege Brownlee