THE killers jailed for murdering Greenock man Edward "Tedge" McIntosh nearly 10 years ago have been told they face at least another five years behind bars.

Brothers John and Joseph Murray were jailed for life in 1993 for knifing Mr McIntosh to death in Glenbrae Road, Greenock, in December 1992.

John Murray was also convicted of stabbing and attempting to murder William McIntosh in Clydeview Road and Glenbrae Road, Greenock, and was given an eight year sentence along with his life sentence.

The two were brought from prison to the High Court in Glasgow yesterday to have the punishment part of their life sentences set by a judge as laid down by a new law. They appeared one at a time, flanked by prison officers, before the judge Lord Philip.

John Murray was told he must serve another six years until he is considered for parole and brother Joseph faces another five-year stretch.

Lord Philip told the brothers that they had carried out a savage attack on their victim and had taken the law into their own hands.

He ordered John Murray to serve 15 years and Joseph Murray to serve 14 years before being allowed to approach the parole board.

Defending, Mr Gordon Jackson, QC, said that Edward McIntosh had got out of a taxi on the fatal night and had been chased down the Strone and murdered.

He said that Mr McIntosh himself had previously been on trial for a murder in Port Glasgow and had been acquitted during the trial. McIntosh then went into the witness box and claimed he had carried out the killing in a vain attempt to get his co-accused off.

Mr Jackson said: 'It was Edward"s turn to be the deceased the night he was killed. In circumstances like that they are either on the slab in the mortuary or in the dock accused of murder.`