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08/07/2003
Arrests made in inquiry over murder of leading loyalist
Six men have been arrested in connection with the murder of leading loyalist John Gregg, who was shot dead in Belfast in February of this year.
The arrests were made on Tuesday morning in a joint operation between the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Greater Manchester Police. Three men were arrested in the Shankill Road area of Belfast, while three other men were detained in Bolton, on suspicion of their involvement in the murder.
John Gregg (45) was gunned down by rival loyalists on 1 February 2003 in an ambush which occurred in the Belfast docks area. Gregg, leader of the Ulster Defence Association's south-east Antrim division, died at the scene of the shooting. Three other men were wounded during the attack with one man, Robert Carson, later dying from his injuries in hospital.
The shooting took place as part of a feud within the Ulster Defence Association, which commenced following the decision made by UDA leadership last September to expel lower Shankill leader Johnny Adair and his associate John White. Many of Adair's supporters fled to England and Scotland after being forced out of Belfast, and it is thought that several loyalists associated with Adair now reside in Bolton.
Convicted in 1995 on charges of directing terrorism, Adair was released from Maghaberry Prison in September 1999 under the terms of the Good Friday agreement. However, his early release licence was revoked in January 2003 and he was sent back to jail after Northern Ireland Secretary, Paul Murphy, ruled that he had been involved in "a litany of terrorist crimes".
(CL)
The arrests were made on Tuesday morning in a joint operation between the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Greater Manchester Police. Three men were arrested in the Shankill Road area of Belfast, while three other men were detained in Bolton, on suspicion of their involvement in the murder.
John Gregg (45) was gunned down by rival loyalists on 1 February 2003 in an ambush which occurred in the Belfast docks area. Gregg, leader of the Ulster Defence Association's south-east Antrim division, died at the scene of the shooting. Three other men were wounded during the attack with one man, Robert Carson, later dying from his injuries in hospital.
The shooting took place as part of a feud within the Ulster Defence Association, which commenced following the decision made by UDA leadership last September to expel lower Shankill leader Johnny Adair and his associate John White. Many of Adair's supporters fled to England and Scotland after being forced out of Belfast, and it is thought that several loyalists associated with Adair now reside in Bolton.
Convicted in 1995 on charges of directing terrorism, Adair was released from Maghaberry Prison in September 1999 under the terms of the Good Friday agreement. However, his early release licence was revoked in January 2003 and he was sent back to jail after Northern Ireland Secretary, Paul Murphy, ruled that he had been involved in "a litany of terrorist crimes".
(CL)
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