29/01/2007

Judge grants bail to Ihab Shoukri

The High Court has today granted bail to Belfast loyalist Ihab Shoukri.

However the judge, Mr Justice Weatherup, refused to consider documents claiming that he was a leading member of a loyalist paramilitary organisation and ordered him to live in England due to a number of death threats issued against him.

Mr Shoukri was released on bail of £500 and ordered to live at an address approved by police. He was also ordered to follow a curfew imposed by the court and to report to police on a daily basis.

During today's hearing, a prosecution lawyer said that he had documents to prove that Mr Shoukri was a leading paramilitary, however a defence lawyer said that this was not being given as evidence in the Crown Court hearing, therefore should not be considered during his application for bail.

Mr Shoukri was arrested in March 2006 during a police raid on a bar in the loyalist Tigers Bay area of north Belfast.

(EF/SP)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

05 July 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.
07 March 2006
Court told UDA planning end to criminality
A court in Belfast has heard that a meeting at a Belfast bar raided by police last week was called to bring an end to UDA criminality. The claim came in evidence given as a Judge considered evidence in relation to police application to have prominent loyalist Ihab Shoukri's bail revoked.
08 March 2006
Judge denies application to revoke Shoukri bail
A police application to have Ihab Shoukri's bail revoked has been rejected at Belfast Crown Court. Judge Tom Burgess said that there was no evidence before him which suggested that the 32-year-old had broken bail conditions. Mr Shoukri was arrested when police raided a Belfast bar on the York Road last week.
26 March 2007
Ihab Shoukri back in jail
Loyalist leader Ihab Shoukri has been returned to jail over new charges relating to handling stolen property. Shoukri, 33, was arrested while on bail on charges relating to a police raid on a north Belfast bar.
15 January 2003
UDA leader freed on bail
A leading loyalist has been freed on bail at the High Court in Belfast today. Andre Shoukri, 25, from Sunningdale Gardens in north Belfast, was granted bail of £6,000 and released on the stipulation that he not associate with members of illegal organisations, and observes a curfew and stays clear of north Belfast.