The limited life expectancy of a terminally-ill dissident republican convicted of murdering two British soldiers should not influence the length of his jail term, his defence lawyer has accepted.

Co Londonderry cystic fibrosis sufferer Brian Shivers, 46, was handed a life sentence last month after being found guilty of the murders of Sappers Patrick Azimkar, 21 and Mark Quinsey, 23, outside Massereene Army barracks in Antrim on March 7 2009.

His lawyer, Pat O'Connor QC, told Belfast Crown Court his client had only four or five years to live.

But he acknowledged judge Justice Antony Hart was duty bound to impose to a minimum term that was much longer.

"There's no allowance that my Lord can make that can have any meaning in relation to a life expectancy that is so limited," he said.

Justice Hart was hearing submissions before setting what tariff the killer will receive. He is due to give his decision next Friday.