Cases

Petrol bomb gang jailed for 64 years

Six men have been jailed for a total of 64 years and three months their part in a series of petrol bomb attacks in Greenock. 

Robert Warnock and associates Kieran McAnally, Brendan O'Donnell, Drew Darling, Cain Carr, and Craig McFarlane were sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow today for the attacks in Greenock, Inverclyde in 2020. 

Warnock had previously pled guilty to a conspiracy to murder charge after organising three fire attacks on the homes of relatives of two men he believed were involved in a 2019 attack on his brother. 

The first incident was a petrol bomb attack at a flat in Union Street, Greenock in the early hours of 13 July 2020. 

CCTV footage presented to the court showed Drew Darling filling a fuel container and purchasing three glass Irn-bru bottles from the BP garage on Inverkip Road shortly before the attack. 

A man called George Miller was recruited to target the same property on 14 September. Mr Miller died after setting himself on fire while attempting to ignite petrol that he had poured on the door and through the letterbox. 

The third and final attack was at a flat in Cumberland Road on 19 September. 

Darling and O'Donnell pled guilty to attempted murder relating to involvement in the Union Street attack. Kieran McAnally pled guilty to attempted murder over the petrol bombing at Cumberland Street. 

Cain Carr and Craig McFarlane were also found guilty of conspiracy to murder. 

David Green, Procurator Fiscal for Homicide and Major Crime, said: 

“Robert Warnock was the ringleader of a revenge driven plot to murder two men and endanger the lives of their family and friends. 

“His associates were either directly involved in carrying out these cowardly attacks or in arranging or recruiting others to do so. 

“Our prosecutors will continue to do our utmost to prosecute those who carry out acts of violence against others and keep the communities we serve safe.” 

Additional information

Robert Warnock pled guilty to conspiracy to murder at the High Court in Glasgow on 14 September 2022. On 30 November he was sentenced to 15 years & 3 months imprisonment. 

Kieran McAnally pled guilty to attempted murder at the High Court in Glasgow on 14 September 2022. On 30 November he was sentenced to 9 years imprisonment.  

Brendan O'Donnell pled guilty to attempted murder at the High Court in Glasgow on 14 September2022. On 30 November he was sentenced to 9 years imprisonment. 

Drew Darling pled guilty to attempted murder at the High Court in Glasgow on 14 September 2022. On 30 November he was sentenced to 6 years custody. 

Cain Carr was found guilty of conspiracy to murder at the High Court in Glasgow on 22 September 2022. On 30 November he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. 

Craig McFarlane was found guilty of conspiracy to murder at the High Court in Glasgow on 22 September 2022. On 30 November he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.