Killer's jail term to be decided

The Northern Lord Chief Justice was today preparing to tell loyalist killer Michael Stone how long he will have to spend behind bars.

The 51-year-old killer is back behind bars after being charged with attempting to murder Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and chief negotiator Martin McGuinness when he launched an assault on Stormont Parliament Buildings while the Assembly was sitting on Friday.

Whatever sentence he may or may not get for his latest offence, he faces a very long time behind bars for his past deeds.

It looks like he faces spending 18 years in jail before again being allowed out.

He was jailed in 1989 for what became known as the Milltown Massacre – his slaughter the year before of three republicans and injury of many more in a gun and grenade attack on the funeral of the three IRA members shot dead in Gibraltar – and three other murders.

Stone was freed on licence in 2000 – one of 800 terrorists let out under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

With the early release licence revoked by Northern secretary Peter Hain following the charges surrounding the Stormont attack it will now be left to the Lord Chief Justice to determine the time he spends behind bars.

The trial judge handed down sentences totalling almost 700 years and recommended Stone serve a minimum of 30 years before being considered for release.

If Brian Kerr reinstates the whole sentence Stone will be almost 70 before he gets out.

Meanwhile it became clear today Stone – ever the publicity seeker – tipped off a number of Belfast journalists he was about to do something that would put him back in jail.

In a bizarre phone call he said: “I’m just ringing you to let you know that I’ll be going back to prison very shortly. I can’t tell you why I will be going back, there is an embargo on it until after 12.00.

“I just want to let you know that I have something big planned, but I am not able to say anything else.”

At 11.08 on Friday Assembly speaker Eileen Bell suspended the session after Stone was seized by security staff at the front door.

Eight explosive devices were later defused by army experts.

The suspended debate will be resumed in the morning by the Speaker.