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08/01/2009
Weapons Highlighted As Loyalist Charged
On the day that illegal loyalist paramilitary weapons are again in focus - with a leading police association insisting there is no evidence of any intention of surrendering such arms - a prominent loyalist has appeared in court charged with murder.
Mark Haddock, 40, was charged by the Historical Enquiries Team after being taken from Maghaberry prison where he is serving a 10-year sentence for attacking a club doorman.
The Mount Vernon man was questioned at Antrim serious crime suite and charged over the death of UDA man Tommy English.
The fatal shooting was in October 2000, and saw Mr English gunned-down in front of his wife and children during a bloody loyalist feud.
Belfast Magistrates Court was today told the case against Haddock was based on statements of two brothers who admitted having a role in the murder.
The pair from Newtownabbey were initially charged with murder but last month admitted a lesser charge.
Meanwhile, the NI Police Federation has said that the recent decision to allow another year for loyalist paramilitaries to decommission their weapons is wrong.
In a letter sent to the Secretary of State the Federation's Terry Spence, which represents the 9,000 Police Service of Northern Ireland officers, said the request was "misconceived and undisguised appeasement".
"The fact is that loyalist paramilitaries have had 11 years to decommission," he said.
He said there was no meaningful evidence that the UVF and particularly the UDA had any intention of surrendering their arms until forced to do so and slammed Secretary of State Shaun Woodward's move to extend the NI Arms Decommissioning Act to 2010.
The Federation said it wanted MPs and Peers to resist the request and that loyalist paramilitaries had no intention of giving up their weapons.
However, the NIO said that it would be the last time the deadline would be extended.
(BMcC)
Mark Haddock, 40, was charged by the Historical Enquiries Team after being taken from Maghaberry prison where he is serving a 10-year sentence for attacking a club doorman.
The Mount Vernon man was questioned at Antrim serious crime suite and charged over the death of UDA man Tommy English.
The fatal shooting was in October 2000, and saw Mr English gunned-down in front of his wife and children during a bloody loyalist feud.
Belfast Magistrates Court was today told the case against Haddock was based on statements of two brothers who admitted having a role in the murder.
The pair from Newtownabbey were initially charged with murder but last month admitted a lesser charge.
Meanwhile, the NI Police Federation has said that the recent decision to allow another year for loyalist paramilitaries to decommission their weapons is wrong.
In a letter sent to the Secretary of State the Federation's Terry Spence, which represents the 9,000 Police Service of Northern Ireland officers, said the request was "misconceived and undisguised appeasement".
"The fact is that loyalist paramilitaries have had 11 years to decommission," he said.
He said there was no meaningful evidence that the UVF and particularly the UDA had any intention of surrendering their arms until forced to do so and slammed Secretary of State Shaun Woodward's move to extend the NI Arms Decommissioning Act to 2010.
The Federation said it wanted MPs and Peers to resist the request and that loyalist paramilitaries had no intention of giving up their weapons.
However, the NIO said that it would be the last time the deadline would be extended.
(BMcC)
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Loyalist Guns In Focus As Peace Broker Remembered
As leading loyalist figures joined mourners at the funeral of a 'peace-broker' clergyman yesterday, the focus of attention was again turning to weapons' decommissioning. The Rev Roy Magee, who was buried on Wednesday, was a key figure in helping to broker the loyalist paramilitary ceasefires in the mid-1990s.
Loyalist Guns In Focus As Peace Broker Remembered
As leading loyalist figures joined mourners at the funeral of a 'peace-broker' clergyman yesterday, the focus of attention was again turning to weapons' decommissioning. The Rev Roy Magee, who was buried on Wednesday, was a key figure in helping to broker the loyalist paramilitary ceasefires in the mid-1990s.
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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.
