Glasgow thugs jailed for 38 years for murdering a father trying to save his daughter

Paul McCann, 38, and Mark Moncrieff, 33 pounced on Brian Boyle outside the victim’s flat in Glasgow’s Dennistoun in July last year.

The 56-year-old had left his home with his daughter Kayleigh Boyle after hearing shouts and her car being vandalised.

Brave Brian died after then being repeatedly struck with a knife and a hammer.

An emotional Kayleigh, 23, recalled: “He saved my life. If he had not jumped in front of me, it would have been me who would have been stabbed.”

Jurors heard how the Boyle family had no idea why the killing happened.

McCann and Moncrieff were convicted of murder following a three-week trial at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday. 

It emerged the pair already had a horrendous record for violence.

McCann had 36 convictions, including a five-and-a-half year jail term for assault and robbery.

He was awaiting sentencing at the time of the killing for an offence of threatening and abusive behaviour.

Moncrieff’s crime sheet ran to 12 convictions with an attempted murder in 2004.

Lord Boyd jailed the pair for life.

Moncrieff – who delivered the fatal blow – will serve a minimum 20 years behind bars and McCann 18 years.

The judge said: “Why Brian Boyle died is beyond me. Perhaps the only explanation was that you were openly engaging in the mindless violence you are used to.”

He paid tribute to Kayleigh stating she showed “considerable courage” facing the thugs from the witness box.

The judge added: “She had to deal with the horror of seeing her father die in her arms before her.”

The pair showed no remorse as they were lead to the cells.

Domenica Smith, 22, had also faced the murder charge, but jurors returned a not proven verdict.

McCann and Moncrieff were also convicted of threatening and abusive behaviour.

Smith meantime was found guilty of two charges of that crime as well as assaulting Kayleigh.

Smith who had been on remand was bailed pending her sentencing at a later date.