Three men given lengthy prison sentences for Magherafelt tiger kidnapping

Three men were today yesterday given lengthy prison sentences for their part in a Tiger kidnapping in Magherafelt.
The three, 27-year-old Terence Lunny of 30, Nansen Street, Belfast, 34-year-old Richard Manson of 24, Oldtown Road, Analong and 25-year-old Ruarai Larkin of,11, Ballymena Road, Portglenone all admitted their part in the incident which occurred on October 2009.
The court was told that the police operation began in Belfast and several cars were followed to Magherafelt and police took up position around a house where two bank officials from the Northern Bank, a mother and daughter resided.
The accused Larkin was the boyfriend of the daughter of the house and at 11.30 on the night in question he returned to the house with the daughter.
Police officers were in position at the rear of the house at the time.
Police observed three men in the field behind the house. At 1.02 a.m. noise from a police radio alerted the men and they stood up and police heard what they believed to be the slide of a weapon.
Two warning shots were fired and the men went to the ground.
Police then arrested three men, and recovered an air pistol and a cap gun, mobile phones, cable ties, balaclavas and gloves.
Judge Grant did say the three had displayed a degree of remorse he felt was genuine.
Lunny and Manson were both sentenced to nine years in prison of which they will serve four and a half in custody and the rest on licence.
Larkin was given a five year sentence of which he will serve two and a half in custody and the rest on licence.