A MAN and woman who subjected a defenceless man to a "savage and merciless attack" before dumping his body in a wheelie bin will spend a combined total of 29 years in prison before being considered for parole.
Stephen Thomas Hughes (30) and 25-year old Shaunean Boyle were convicted of murdering Owen Creaney following an attack in July 2014.
While Hughes showed no emotion when he was told he will serve a minimum of 15 years, co-accused Boyle wept when she was handed a minimum 14-year term.
Mr Justice Treacy branded the attack on Mr Creaney as "savage and merciless" and spoke of the devastating impact the murder has had on the victim's family.
Mr Creaney was brutally beaten in the hallway of Hughes's Moyraverty Court home in Craigavon in the early hours of Thursday July 3, 2014.
Following the savage beating, Hughes and Boyle carried their blood and urine-soaked victim up the stairs where he was showered and changed into fresh clothes before being placed on a sofa in an upstairs bedroom.
Mr Creaney's injuries included a total of 15 fractured ribs and a broken breastbone, as well as bleeding of and tearing to the brain.
He never regained consciousness but lived for around two days before passing away from his injuries. His body was then dumped into a green wheelie bin, with waste items placed on top of his remains.
Mr Justice Treacy said that due to the nature of his injuries and without medical attention, Mr Creaney "must have been in very considerable pain and suffering" prior to passing away. He also spoke of the degradation he endured after being attacked whilst defenceless.
In a victim impact statement made by the victim's mother Teresa Creaney that was read in court, she said she will never get over her son's murder. She also revealed that Owen's twin sister Shirley died a year after her brother's murder of a "broken heart."
Mrs Creaney said her family's life had been "changed forever", and she also described as "horrendous" the five-week trial where she heard about "the exact suffering" inflicted on her son.
Hughes, whose address was given as HMP Maghaberry, and co-accused Boyle, from Edenderry Park in Banbridge, both admitted being present when Mr Creaney was viciously attacked but initially blamed each other.
The pair were due to be sentenced last week - but in a shock move Hughes's barrister said that despite denying he attacked Mr Creaney since the murder in July 2014, he was now admitting his guilt.
Barrister Peter Irvine said the last-minute confession should indicate remorse for what Hughes described as a "moment of madness" which resulted in his friend losing his life.
During the trial the jury also heard from several witnesses who visited Hughes's home while Mr Creaney lay dying in the upstairs bedroom.
One friend who saw Mr Creaney told Boyle that he needed medical attention. She later informed a relative about what she had seen, who in turn contacted the PSNI.
When the pair were arrested, Boyle told police to "look in the bin", where they found Mr Creaney's remains.
At yesterday's sentencing, the court heard how the Creaney family is trying to come to terms with the circumstances of his death.
Mrs Creaney said her son celebrated his 40th birthday just six days before he was killed. Describing her son as a "victim with no voice", in her statement she said "wee Owen ... didn't have a bad bone in his body" and was "easy prey" for Hughes and Boyle.
Speaking outside court the victim's father Jim Creaney, echoed his wife's sentiments.
"The loss of such a wonderful son has left us heartbroken. Owen wouldn't hurt anyone. Owen was a kind soul and didn't deserve what happened to him.
"He thought he was with his friends but those people turned out to be his killers."
Detective Chief Inspector Lee McNevison said police hoped the sentences would "provide comfort and a degree of closure for the Creaney family".
