Judge blasts lack of remorse

GUILTY : Mohammed Ali

Nine other defendants faced trial alongside Cregan on various charges linked to the deaths of the Shorts, four of whom were cleared.

Mr Justice Holroyde criticised Cregan and his co-accused for not showing any sign of remorse or compassion for his victims during the trial.

There was a shout of “Yeah!” from the back of the dock and Cregan turned around with a smile.

Co-accused Anthony Wilkinson looked at the public gallery, where the victims’ families were seated, with a broad smile on his face.

Mohammed Ali (32), from Chadderton, was found guilty of assisting an offender and jailed for seven years.

Leon Atkinson (35), from Ashton, Ryan Hadfield (29), from Droylsden, and Matthew James (33), from Clayton, were cleared of the murder of Mark Short in the Cotton Tree pub and the attempted murders of three others in the pub.

Luke Livesey (28), from Hattersley, and Damian Gorman (38), from Glossop, were found guilty of those charges.

Anthony Wilkinson (34), from Beswick, pleaded guilty during the trial to murdering David Short and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. He was cleared of the attempted murder of Mrs Hark on the same day and cleared of causing an explosion with a hand grenade.

Francis Dixon (38), from Stalybridge, was acquitted of the murder of David Short, the attempted murder of Mrs Hark and causing an explosion with a hand grenade.

Jermaine Ward (24), was found guilty of the murder of David Short but cleared of the attempted murder of Mrs Hark and causing an explosion with a hand grenade.