Judge revokes shot loyalist's bail

A leading loyalist, who was shot six times last month, has been ordered to return to prison after he is released from hospital.

The judge at Belfast's Crown Court, today revoked Mark Haddock's bail, saying that when he was shot, he had made a "deliberate, significant and, flagrant breach of his bail conditions."

The judge continued by saying that the courts had repeatedly stated that in all cases, apart from trivial or excusable circumstances, where the terms of bail is breached, the almost inevitable result is that they will have their bail revoked and returned to prison.

Mark Haddock, 36, and originally from the Mount Vernon area of north Belfast, was shot six times in the Mossley area of the Doagh Road on Tuesday May 13 and is still recovering in the Royal Victoria hospital in Belfast.

Loyalists are being blamed for the attack.

Mr Haddock, who is suspected of being a senior member of the Ulster Volunteer Force, was on bail facing a charge of attempted murder when the shooting occurred.

He was accused of attempting to kill nightclub doorman Trevor Gowdy in Monkstown in December 2002.

Mr Gowdy was found unconscious in the Monkstown Estate. He had been severely beaten with an iron bar and a hatchet.

The trial began at Belfast Crown Court last year, but was stopped after Mr Gowdy broke down in the witness box and was later deemed medically unfit to continue.

Last month, Mr Gowdy was granted permission to testify from a secret location in England.

Mr Haddock is also at the centre of an investigation by the Police Ombudsman's Office, whose officers are looking into claims of collusion linked to a string of murders.

(EF/SP)