Loyalist killer Clifford McKeown was today sentenced to a minimum of 24 years for the murder of Catholic taxi driver Michael McGoldrick.
During McKeown's trial it was alleged the LVF man killed Mr MCGoldrick as a birthday present for LVF leader Billy Wright.
McKeown had denied murdering Mr McGoldrick (37), who was shot five times in the back of the head in the early hours of July 8th, 1996 after being lured to the Aghagallon area on the outskirts of Lurgan.
Sectarian tensions were high at the time which was the eve of the Orange Order march through Portadown to Drumcree.
Belfast Crown Court judge Mr Justice Wetherup described the murder as "a chilling execution" that was random and cowardly.
It is the first terrorist murder case to be considered under the new tariff regulations introduced two years ago.McKeown, who was a member of Billy Wright's Loyalist Volunteer Force, is currently serving 12 years for firearms offences.
Under the terms of the Belfast Agreement, he can apply to the Sentence Review Commission for early release.
His lawyer told the court that his client would be appealing today's decision.