On September 12, 2025, the High Court in Glasgow handed down life sentences to seven men for the meticulously planned and brutal murder of Neil Canney, a 37-year-old father of five from Greenock, Inverclyde. The sentencing marks the conclusion of a harrowing case that has shaken the local community and left a family devastated by the loss of their loved one.
The events unfolded in the early hours of February 28, 2023, when Neil Canney was targeted at his home on Nairn Road. According to The Scotsman, Canney was shot at eight times in just five seconds after opening his front door. One bullet struck him in the back of the head, fatally wounding him. He was rushed to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The attack was not only directed at Canney. Several other shots were fired into the house, where six others, including two children, were present. The reckless violence put all those inside in grave danger. According to National World, only sheer luck prevented further fatalities, as none of the other occupants were hit by the hail of bullets that pierced the busy household that night.
The seven men convicted and sentenced for their roles in the crime are Kieran Meechan (29), Jack Benson (24), Dale Russell (31), Martin McCusker (41), Brendan Balloch (25), Kieran Hendry (26), and Michael Munro (28). As reported by the Evening Standard, Meechan pleaded guilty to murder prior to the trial, while the other six denied the charges but were found guilty by a jury after a lengthy trial in the summer of 2025. Meechan’s plea of not guilty to attempted murder was accepted by the prosecution.
During sentencing, Lady Drummond KC described the murder as a “brutal attack” that was “planned in advance.” She addressed the court with words that captured the gravity of the crime: “On February 28 you were involved in a planned attack on Mr Canney. You gathered beforehand at a house, some wearing balaclavas and hoods to conceal your identity. In the early hours of the morning you set off to Mr Canney’s house, with the exception of Mr Benson who went to wait nearby in a car to provide transport after the attack. When Mr Canney opened his door you shot a gun eight times in five seconds directly into his home, one shot hitting him in the back of the head and killing him. The other shots were fired into the house.”
The sentences handed down reflect the severity of the crime and the roles each man played. Russell received a minimum term of 24 years, McCusker 23 years, Balloch, Hendry, and Munro each 21 years, Meechan 17 years (reflecting his early guilty plea), and Benson 20 years. The judge made clear that, while Benson was not present at the door during the shooting, he provided crucial transport for the attackers and was thus complicit in the crime.
The total minimum time to be served by all seven men before they are eligible for parole amounts to at least 147 years. Russell was also found guilty of possessing a machete at the time of the killing, adding to the sense of menace and premeditation that characterized the attack.
Throughout the trial and sentencing, the emotional toll on Neil Canney’s family was palpable. Lady Drummond read from a victim impact statement issued by the family: “They describe their utter heartbreak at the loss, and say that it is something that plagues them every day. His children are left to experience life without their protector, role model and biggest supporter and no sentence I impose will change any of that for them.”
Moira Orr, who leads on homicide and major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), condemned the actions of the convicted men. She stated, “Neil Canney’s murder was a brazen shooting deliberately carried out by these individuals, who were acting together following extensive planning. Their reckless actions have robbed the victim’s family of a future with their loved one while also putting the lives of several others, including children, in serious danger. It is only by luck that no one else was hit by any of the bullets that were indiscriminately fired into a busy household that night.” Orr emphasized that the prosecution should send a strong message to others involved in similar criminal behavior: “You cannot hide from justice, and we will use all the tools available to us as we strive to keep the communities we serve safe.”
The defense teams for the convicted men offered various arguments in mitigation. Tony Lenehan KC, representing McCusker, described his client as “a subordinate, also a subordinate of a subordinate” in the incident. Paul Nelson KC, speaking for Benson, highlighted that his client did not fire any shots. Raymond McIlwham, representing Balloch, noted his client’s “degree of insight into the seriousness of the offence and the devastating effect it has had on the victim’s family and his own parents.” Tony Graham KC, for Russell, said his client understood he faced life imprisonment. Meanwhile, Brian McConnachie KC, for Meechan, asked the judge to consider his client’s early guilty plea, while Donald Findlay KC and Tommy Ross KC, representing Munro and Hendry respectively, maintained that their clients continued to deny any involvement in the crime.
Detective Chief Inspector Graham McCreadie, who led the police investigation, described the attack as “truly shocking and traumatic.” He remarked, “This attack was planned and this conviction sends a strong message that those involved in such crimes will face the consequences of their callous and cowardly actions. I hope that this sentence brings some degree of closure to his family and friends and our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.”
The murder of Neil Canney and the subsequent trial have cast a long shadow over Greenock and the wider Inverclyde community. The details revealed in court—of balaclavas, hoods, and a coordinated attack in the dead of night—have left many shaken and questioning how such violence could erupt in their midst. Community leaders and law enforcement officials have reiterated their commitment to tackling violent crime and ensuring the safety of residents.
For the Canney family, however, the pain endures. The loss of a father, protector, and friend is a wound that no sentence can truly heal. As the seven convicted men begin their long terms behind bars, the family—and the community—are left to pick up the pieces and find a way forward after an unthinkable act of violence.