05/07/2006

Leading loyalist refused bail

North Belfast loyalist, Ihab Shoukri, has been refused bail at Belfast High Court, after a judge said that he had received adequate evidence to prove that he was a leading member of the Ulster Defence Association.

Ihab Shoukri, 32, was arrested last week in connection with a police investigation into serious crime.

He was remanded in custody in relation to a PSNI raid on the Alexandra Bar, in York Street in the loyalist Tiger's Bay area of north Belfast in March, in which 17 people were arrested.

It was understood that during the raid, members of the UDA were rehearsing a show of strength.

At the hearing, Lord Justice Nicholson said the UDA was notorious for criminal activity of all sorts and he was concerned that if Shoukri was granted bail he would be a danger to the community and there would be public disorder.

The refusal for bail comes just two week after both Ihab and his brother Andre were expelled from the UDA, following instructions from the organisation's Inner Council calling for the brothers to be dismissed as part of an attempt to clean up the organisations image.

However, the north Belfast brigade refused the request, stating that they wanted the leadership to remain unchanged.

Despite this, along with the announcement that the north Belfast brigade no longer recognises the UDA's Inner Council, the UDA have said that an internal feud is not likely.

(EF/SP)

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