Brian's partner has been testifying in Antrim court.  Lisa Leacock said she believed Brian had been at a work leaving do in Belfast on the night of the shooting, and had arrived home early.  "I believed he was going to meet some friends who were returning home to say farewell," she added.

Ms Leacock said she had not noticed anything abnormal or suspicious about his behaviour.  She said she couldn't be 100% sure of the time of his arrival home but she believed it to be between 21:55 pm and 22:10 pm.

However, a prosecution barrister questioned her about why she had not told the police that.  Ms Leacock said she extended the time to 22:20 pm after police read a statement to her.  She said: "I took it that if I wasn't accurate I could be prosecuted."

Ms Leacock, a Protestant, who has been Brian's partner for around six years, said she and a cousin had received bullets in the post after Brian's arrest.

Brian's girlfriend told the court that when the couple learned of the attack the day after the shootings they were "disgusted and appalled".