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06/02/2003
Funeral held for murdered UDA chief
The funeral of murdered UDA chief John Gregg has taken place in north Belfast today.
Gregg, 45, was killed last Saturday night when returning from a football match in Scotland. The UDA's south-east Antrim commander was killed along with UDA member Robert Carson when the taxi they were travelling in was intercepted by loyalist gunmen in Nelson Street, Belfast, shortly after disembarking from the ferry.
Gregg died instantly and Carson passed away in hospital a short time later. The taxi driver remains in hospital in a serious condition. Gregg's 18-year-old son and another passenger escaped without injury.
The double murder was the bloodiest episode in the loyalist feud which has now claimed a total of four lives. The Red Hand Defenders – a cover name for Johnny Adair's Shankill Road C Company – claimed the murder.
It is expected that the funeral, at his Rathcoole home, will be attended by thousands of people and members of the mainstream UDA.
Gregg gained prominence after his attempted assassination of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams in 1984. He was sentenced to 18 years for the failed murder bid, in which he also shot himself, and later said that his only regret was not killing Adams.
Gregg's home Rathcoole had been targeted by pipe bombers since the internal feud in the UDA began after C Company commander Johnny Adair was expelled from the organisation last September. Gregg was a member of the UDA ruling council which ostracised Adair.
It was Gregg's unit that was responsible for some of the most brutal sectarian murders in recent years. Eighteen-year-old Catholic father of one, Daniel McColgan, was murdered by the group as he went to work in Rathcoole last January. Protestant schoolboy Gavin Brett was then gunned down in north Belfast as he stood talking with Catholic friends last July.
Gregg leaves behind a wife and four children.
(GMcG)
Gregg, 45, was killed last Saturday night when returning from a football match in Scotland. The UDA's south-east Antrim commander was killed along with UDA member Robert Carson when the taxi they were travelling in was intercepted by loyalist gunmen in Nelson Street, Belfast, shortly after disembarking from the ferry.
Gregg died instantly and Carson passed away in hospital a short time later. The taxi driver remains in hospital in a serious condition. Gregg's 18-year-old son and another passenger escaped without injury.
The double murder was the bloodiest episode in the loyalist feud which has now claimed a total of four lives. The Red Hand Defenders – a cover name for Johnny Adair's Shankill Road C Company – claimed the murder.
It is expected that the funeral, at his Rathcoole home, will be attended by thousands of people and members of the mainstream UDA.
Gregg gained prominence after his attempted assassination of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams in 1984. He was sentenced to 18 years for the failed murder bid, in which he also shot himself, and later said that his only regret was not killing Adams.
Gregg's home Rathcoole had been targeted by pipe bombers since the internal feud in the UDA began after C Company commander Johnny Adair was expelled from the organisation last September. Gregg was a member of the UDA ruling council which ostracised Adair.
It was Gregg's unit that was responsible for some of the most brutal sectarian murders in recent years. Eighteen-year-old Catholic father of one, Daniel McColgan, was murdered by the group as he went to work in Rathcoole last January. Protestant schoolboy Gavin Brett was then gunned down in north Belfast as he stood talking with Catholic friends last July.
Gregg leaves behind a wife and four children.
(GMcG)
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UDA chief murdered in loyalist feud
Fears are mounting that the bloodshed surrounding the UDA feud will spiral still further out of control after the organisation's commander in south Antrim was gunned down in Belfast at the weekend.
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Police have renewed their appeal for information into the shooting of leading UDA member John Gregg, six months on from his killing. Gregg (45) was gunned down by rival loyalists during an ambush in the docks area of Belfast.
09 December 2002
Top loyalist targeted by pipe bombers
A high-ranking member of the UFF in south-east Antrim has escaped injury after he found a pipe bomb type device underneath his car yesterday. Army technical officers were called to John Gregg's Nendrum Gardens home in the Rathcoole estate, Newtownabbey, yesterday morning where they defused the device.
Top loyalist targeted by pipe bombers
A high-ranking member of the UFF in south-east Antrim has escaped injury after he found a pipe bomb type device underneath his car yesterday. Army technical officers were called to John Gregg's Nendrum Gardens home in the Rathcoole estate, Newtownabbey, yesterday morning where they defused the device.
05 February 2003
Funeral held for murdered UDA member
The funeral of one of the men gunned down by loyalists last weekend has taken place today. Robert Carson, 33, was mortally wounded after gunmen ambushed the taxi he was travelling in last Saturday night. Mr Carson, who was a member of the UDA, died in hospital shortly after the attack.
Funeral held for murdered UDA member
The funeral of one of the men gunned down by loyalists last weekend has taken place today. Robert Carson, 33, was mortally wounded after gunmen ambushed the taxi he was travelling in last Saturday night. Mr Carson, who was a member of the UDA, died in hospital shortly after the attack.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
