Sailor charged over nuclear sub shooting
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Royal Navy serviceman Ryan Donovan has been charged with the murder of Lt-Cdr Ian Molyneux and the attempted murders of three other crew members on board the nuclear submarine HMS Astute. Able Seaman Donovan, 22, of Dartford, Kent, is due to appear at Southampton magistrates' court this morning.
Lt-Cdr Molyneux, 36, from Wigan, was shot dead as the ship was docked in Southampton. A second officer, Lt-Cdr Christopher Hodge, 45, was injured and remains in hospital in a stable condition.
On Saturday, Lt-Cdr Molyneux's widow, Gillian, paid tribute to her husband, saying: "Ian was utterly devoted to his family. He was very proud to be an officer in the Royal Navy Submarine Service. He will live on in our four beautiful children." Capt Phil Buckley, captain of the Faslane Flotilla to which HMS Astute belongs, said: "Ian Molyneux was a thoroughly professional and competent submarine engineer and a great asset to HMS Astute and the Royal Navy's Submarine Service."