A SAILOR has been sentenced to 25 years for murdering a fellow seaman aboard a nuclear submarine in Southampton.

Able Seaman Ryan Donovan, aged 23, of Hillside Road, appeared at Winchester Crown Court today, where he pleaded guilty to killing Lieutenant Commander Ian Molyneux, 36, of Wigan, with an SA80 rifle while the sub was docked at Dock Gate Four on April 8 this year.

He also admitted the attempted murders of Petty Officer Christopher Brown, 36, Chief Petty Officer David McCoy, 37, and Lieutenant Commander Christopher Hodge, 45, during a goodwill visit to the city.

Donovan will serve a minimum of 25 years and 194 days for the murder Lt Cmdr Molyneux.

Councillor Royston Smith, leader of Southampton City Council, was standing in the submarine’s control room on April 8 when shots were fired from an SA80 assault rifle.

Cllr Smith, a former RAF engineer who served in the Falklands, suffered cuts and bruises as he fought to restrain the gunman and remove his weapon.

Also aboard for the civic visit were the then mayor, Councillor Carol Cunio, and the council’s chief executive, Alistair Neill.