Two men who fired on police after a controversial Orange parade was banned in September 2005 were yesterday jailed for a total of 28 years at Belfast Crown Court.
Jailing John Main (38) and Colin Harbinson (36), both from Highfield Drive in Belfast, Mr Justice Deeny said they had taken part in what was "clearly one of the most violent cases of public disorder in recent years in Northern Ireland".
Main was sentenced to 17 years for attemp-ting to murder police during the rioting on the West Circular Road that followed the re-routing of the Whiterock Orange Parade on September 11th, 2005, while Harbinson was given 10 years for possessing firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life.
Both men also agreed to serve two years each on probation following their release.
Main, himself the victim of a paramilitary shooting, was convicted of the attempted murder charge, while Harbinson was acquitted. However, the two neighbours did plead guilty to possessing the guns used during the riot, which they also admitted.
Mr Justice Deeny said the police on the day of the march were acting in accordance with the lawful decision to re-route the parade but were faced with a number of people, including the accused, who blocked their way. Despite this, the police while showing "remarkable restraint and patience came under a hail of bottles, stones and missiles, and not content with that explosive devices were thrown at them".
The judge said Main and Harbinson "took up position in turn to fire on the police lines some 20 to 40m away, each of them firing a volley of shots". Mr Justice Deeny said while a police helicopter video showed Main "pushing forward with the evident intention of shooting a police officer", Harbinson, further back, appeared to aim higher and to be "firing above the police line".
Although both men were hooded and wore gloves in an attempt to hide their identities, they were, however, still able to be unmasked by police, which Supt Clarke said should serve as a warning to other gunmen and bombers.