A SENIOR judge who ruled that a west Belfast man played an "integral" part in the murder of prison officer Adrian Ismay will impose a tariff "as soon as possible", a court heard yesterday.
Christopher Robinson (50) was found guilty earlier this year on charges of murdering Mr Ismay in March 2016, and of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life, and was handed a life sentence.
Robinson - described by his barrister as "a man who is full of contradictions" - appeared at Belfast Crown Court via a videolink with Maghaberry Prison for a 'sentence' hearing.
Mr Justice McAlinden listened to submissons from both the Crown and defence, and after it emerged that Victim Impact Statements have not yet been obtained by the Crown, the judge said he would set the tariff hearing at a later date.
Robinson was convicted of his role in the plot to murder Mr Ismay following a non-jury trial in March. It heard the two men knew each other through their work as volunteers for St John's Ambulance.
Mr Ismay (52) - had just left his east Belfast home and was driving along Hillsborough Drive at around 7am on March 4, 2016 when a bomb planted under his van detonated after he went over a speed ramp.
Despite appearing to make a good recovery from shrapnel injuries, the father-of-three died 11 days later.
Robinson, from Aspen Walk in Twinbrook, was arrested two days after the explosion and denied any involvement in the incident.
However, following the trial Robinson was convicted of murder, with much of the trial focusing on a red Citroen CS which the Crown said was used to transport the improvised explosive device.
The prosecution made the case that the evening before the explosion, Robinson picked up the vehicle from his brother's workplace, and that this vehicle was used to transport the bomb.
During yesterday's hearing, Crown barrister David McDowell QC pointed out that in the judgment, Mr Justice McAlinden concluded Robinson's role was "intimate, inextricable and integral throughout."
Defence barrister Arthur Harvey QC described Robinson as "a man whose life has been one of chaos", and revealed he suffered mental health issues as the result of a childhood trauma.
Mr Harvey spoke of a wealth of community work Robinson engaged in, as well as being a former member of Sinn Féin.
Describing Robinson as "a man who is full of contradictions", Mr Harvey highlighted his client's "impulsive behaviour", adding he was a man who lived quite an isolated existence.
Mr Justice McAlinden said he would impose the sentence "as soon as possible."
