25 years for sailor who gunned down officer on nuclear sub

Able Seaman Ryan Samuel Donovan, 23, admitted murdering Lieutenant Commander Ian Molyneux, 36, with an SA80 rifle while HMS Astute was docked in Southampton on April 8.

Donovan fired the rifle six times in the control room of the submarine, aiming at four named victims and killing weapons engineer officer Lt Cdr Molyneux.

Appearing at Winchester Crown Court, 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 Southampton.

Mr Justice Field called the shootings a “murderous onslaught”.

He said it had been a “miracle” he had not killed the two petty officers, which he had intended to do before Lt Cdr Molyneux came from the control room to investigate.

“You backed away and, undeterred by the danger confronting him, Lt Cdr Molyneux moved forward to apprehend you and you shot him in the side of his head,” the judge said.

“In killing that officer, you robbed him of a bright future within a loving family.”

The consequences for his wife Gillian and his four children were immeasurable. The judge described the offences as “premeditated, planned and an outrageous breach of trust”.

But he gave Donovan, of Hillside Road, Dartford, Kent, credit for his early plea, age and remorse.

Prosecutor Nigel Lickley QC told the court the death toll could have been higher but for the bravery of Southampton council leader Royston Smith and chief executive Alistair Neill.

Opening the case, Mr Lickley said Donovan had volunteered for guard duty after being extremely drunk at 3am that morning.

He said Donovan had been found without his shirt in a hotel corridor and had to be put to bed by a colleague.

He was issued with the SA80 in a corridor after passing a test – which involved having his breath smelled by Petty Officer Brown – to see if he was sober.

The barrister said Donovan fired four shots at the two petty officers from ten feet away. They were not hit.

“Lt Cdr Molyneux reacted to the noise of the shots. As he turned to tackle the defendant he was shot in the head at very close range and died instantly,” the barrister explained. “That was shot five. The defendant stepped over the body of Lt Cdr Molyneux and continued his progress towards the control room.”

Donovan entered the control room where Lt Cdr Hodge was shot through the body and seriously injured.

“The defendant was then wrestled to the ground by the leader of Southampton City Council Royston Smith and the council chief executive Alistair Neill and prevented from killing anyone else.

“There can be no doubt they displayed remarkable courage.”

The shootings took place as local dignitaries were being given a tour of the submarine.

In mitigation, Christopher Parker QC said: “His behaviour shortly after midday on April 8 is so far outside the norm it was barely conceivable.

“He literally ran amok and over the period of eight seconds in the control room of HMS Astute caused damage that is, in his rational state of mind, inconceivable.”