In a case that stunned the quiet community of Greenock, Inverclyde, seven men have been handed lengthy prison sentences for the "brutal" murder of Neil Canney, a 37-year-old father, who was gunned down on his mother’s doorstep in the early hours of February 28, 2023. The sentencing, which took place at the High Court in Glasgow on September 12, 2025, marked the conclusion of a harrowing ordeal for Canney’s family and a rare, chilling episode of gun violence in Scotland.
According to BBC News and the Press Association, Neil Canney was staying at his mother’s house on Nairn Road when he noticed a group of people outside. Believing one of them to be a friend, he opened the door—only to be met with a hail of bullets. In a matter of five seconds, eight shots were fired into the home, one fatally striking Canney in the head. Inside, his mother, Georgina Canney, along with other relatives and two young children, scrambled for cover, hiding behind a freezer as chaos erupted around them.
"I looked out. There were five figures at the bottom of the stairs and one at the side of my car on a bike," Georgina Canney told jurors, as reported by BBC News. She recounted how, after the shots rang out, she immediately grabbed two children and called on her granddaughter to "get everyone on the floor." Despite being a trained first-aider, Georgina was so traumatized by the scene that she could not bring herself to turn her son over as he lay bleeding on the hallway floor.
Neil Canney was rushed to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, but the single gunshot wound to his head proved fatal. Prosecutor Alan Cameron told the court, "It is simply not possible, on the evidence we have, to say with any degree of certainty who fired the gun." What was clear, however, was that the attack was meticulously planned. The group had gathered beforehand, some wearing balaclavas and hoods to conceal their identities, before setting off to Canney’s home. Jack Benson, 24, provided transport, waiting nearby in a car to facilitate the group’s escape after the shooting.
The seven men convicted in connection with the killing are Jack Benson, Dale Russell (31), Martin McCusker (41), Brendan Balloch (25), Kieran Hendry (26), Michael Munro (27), and Kieran Meechan (29). Meechan pleaded guilty to murder before the trial began, while the other six were found guilty of both murder and the attempted murder of six people inside the house. All received life sentences, with minimum terms ranging from 17 to 24 years—Meechan receiving the lowest sentence due to his early guilty plea. Russell, described as a serial offender with a history of violent crimes and robbery, was ordered to serve at least 24 years, while McCusker received 23 years. Balloch, Hendry, and Munro each face a minimum of 21 years, and Benson a minimum of 20 years.
During sentencing, Lady Drummond addressed the defendants with pointed words: "This was a brutal attack planned in advance. Your actions showed utter indifference to everybody in that house. Use of firearms to commit murder must be deterred and penalties enforced must be appropriate to achieve that." She also referenced the emotional impact statements from Canney’s family, noting their "utter heartbreak" and emphasizing that his children would now have to grow up without their "protector, role model and biggest supporter."
The trial, as reported by the Press Association, was not without its own drama. Dale Russell, in a rare turn of events, was at times absent from the dock due to disorderly behavior, which included having to be physically hauled into court by officers in riot gear—one of whom he attempted to headbutt. After the verdicts, it was revealed that all those on trial, except Hendry and Munro, had previous criminal records, with Russell’s being the most extensive.
Evidence presented at the trial was robust and multifaceted. Moira Orr, head of homicide and major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, explained that the prosecution’s case drew on eyewitness accounts, ballistics, DNA analysis, CCTV footage, mobile phone communications, and cell site data. Gunshot residue was found on clothing belonging to several of the gang members, including designer jackets owned by Munro and Hendry. The BBC reported that Benson had transported Russell and McCusker from Lanarkshire to Greenock for the attack and had lied to police to cover up his involvement in cocaine dealing. There was even mention of £40 being received by one of the men for "a good turn."
Mitigation statements from the men’s legal representatives attempted to paint a more nuanced picture of their roles. Tony Lenehan KC, representing McCusker, described his client as "a subordinate, also a subordinate of a subordinate" in the incident. Paul Nelson KC, for Benson, argued that his client did not fire any shots, while Raymond McIlwham, representing Balloch, said his client had "demonstrated a 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." Despite these efforts, the sentences handed down reflected the gravity of the crime and the extensive planning involved.
Detective Chief Inspector Graham McCreadie, who led the police investigation, described the murder as "a truly shocking and traumatic attack that took place in the community, and many people who knew Mr Canney witnessed the attack." He continued, "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."
Moira Orr echoed this sentiment, stating, "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." She added, "This prosecution should send a strong message to others involved in this kind of criminal behaviour – 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."
For the Canney family, the sentences may offer a measure of justice, but the loss remains immeasurable. As the court proceedings drew to a close, the story of Neil Canney’s murder stood as a sobering reminder of the devastation wrought by planned, violent crime—and the enduring pain left in its wake for those who loved him.
