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| UVF 'supergrass' Gary Haggarty jailed for six years | UVF 'supergrass' Gary Haggarty jailed for six years |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A loyalist "supergrass" has been jailed for more than six years after admitting more than 200 offences, including five murders. | A loyalist "supergrass" has been jailed for more than six years after admitting more than 200 offences, including five murders. |
| Gary Haggarty, 45, was a former leader of an Ulster Volunteer Force unit in the Mount Vernon area of north Belfast. | Gary Haggarty, 45, was a former leader of an Ulster Volunteer Force unit in the Mount Vernon area of north Belfast. |
| His sentence was reduced from 35 to six-and-a-half years for assistance provided to the police. | His sentence was reduced from 35 to six-and-a-half years for assistance provided to the police. |
| He was a paid police informer for 11 years. The judge said he was involved in a "terrorist campaign" for 16 years. | |
| After turning state witness in 2009, Haggarty provided information on 55 loyalist murders and 20 attempted murders in 1,015 police interviews. | After turning state witness in 2009, Haggarty provided information on 55 loyalist murders and 20 attempted murders in 1,015 police interviews. |
| However, only one man is to be prosecuted, for two murders, on the back of the evidence. | However, only one man is to be prosecuted, for two murders, on the back of the evidence. |
| The vast majority of people named by Haggarty in his police interviews will not face prosecution amid state concerns about a lack of supporting evidence. | The vast majority of people named by Haggarty in his police interviews will not face prosecution amid state concerns about a lack of supporting evidence. |
| The judgement from Belfast Crown Court indicated that the 35-year jail term was reduced by 75% for the assistance given to prosecutors and then a further 25% for Haggarty's plea of guilty. | |
| The judge said that the offences admitted by Haggarty were "ones of exceptional gravity". | |
| He also noted that Haggarty's motivation for co-operating with prosecutors was "self-interest and pragmatism" rather than because he "wishes to atone for his crimes". | |
| However, his judgement added that Haggarty's assistance "went beyond what might be described as 'normal' and, as a result of that assistance, the defendant has placed himself at considerable personal risk". | |
| The judge said that Haggarty had provided "a significant amount of information in relation to very serious criminal activity". | |
| Haggarty admitted five murders. | |
| The victims were: | |
| The 202 crimes Haggarty was sentenced for were committed between 1991 and 2007. | |
| He also admitted five attempted murders, including against police officers; 23 counts of conspiracy to murder and directing terrorism. | He also admitted five attempted murders, including against police officers; 23 counts of conspiracy to murder and directing terrorism. |
| The judge also took into consideration a further 301 lesser offences in his judgement. |