02/05/2008

Sir Hugh Called To Account On Shoukri Claim

Three 'top' loyalists who are either in jail or awaiting sentence have had a complaint against the PSNI's top cop officially investigated.

Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde admitted to being being interviewed under caution in connection with the allegations, it has emerged at a NI Policing Board meeting.

William 'Mo' Courtney and both the Shoukri brothers, Ihab and Andre, claimed Sir Hugh prejudiced their right to a fair trial by claiming they were in the UDA.

When the Police Ombudsman's office questioned him about the complaint, Sir Hugh said the development was "laughable".

He commented: "I think it's interesting these so-called big men go running to the ombudsman when we arrest them for very serious offences."

Courtney was jailed last year for eight years for his part in the killing of a UDA member while Andre Shoukri is serving a nine-year sentence for trying to extort thousands of pounds from a pub owner.

His brother Ihab is awaiting sentence after pleading guilty last month to being a member of the UDA.

Sir Hugh said the men's complaint was indicative of a tactic used by criminals in Northern Ireland to throw a smokescreen around their own wrongdoings.

(BMcC)

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