24/02/2012

PPS Investigate Evidence In UVF Trial

The Public Prosecution Service is to investigate whether the brothers who turned state evidence during the recent UVF ‘supergrass’ trial breached the terms of their agreement.

On Wednesday 12 of 13 men who were accused of UVF membership, acts of terrorism and a string of other offences walked free. Nine of the 13 were also accused of the murder of UDA leader Tommy English.

Only one man, Neil Pollock, 36, of Fortwilliam Gardens in Belfast was convicted of processing items intended for terrorism.

On Thursday, the PPS said it was considering if they had "knowingly failed to give assistance".

In a statement, it said: "Section 74 (2) of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 provides the mechanism to examine whether an assisting offender has knowingly failed to give assistance in accordance with the agreement with the prosecutor.

"PPS is actively considering this in light of Mr Justice Gillen's judgement."

(LB)


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