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| UVF 'supergrass' Gary Haggarty jailed for six years | UVF 'supergrass' Gary Haggarty jailed for six years |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A loyalist "supergrass" who admitted the murders of five people among hundreds of offences has had a 35-year jail term reduced to six-and-a-half years for helping the police. | A loyalist "supergrass" who admitted the murders of five people among hundreds of offences has had a 35-year jail term reduced to six-and-a-half years for helping the police. |
| Gary Haggarty, 45, was a former leader of an Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) unit in north Belfast. | Gary Haggarty, 45, was a former leader of an Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) unit in north Belfast. |
| Haggarty was a paid police informer for 11 years. | Haggarty was a paid police informer for 11 years. |
| A judge said the offences were "ones of exceptional gravity" but that he had provided significant information. | A judge said the offences were "ones of exceptional gravity" but that he had provided significant information. |
| After turning state witness in 2009, Haggarty provided information on 55 loyalist murders and 20 attempted murders in the course of 1,015 police interviews. | After turning state witness in 2009, Haggarty provided information on 55 loyalist murders and 20 attempted murders in the course of 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. |
| Who are the UVF? | Who are the UVF? |
| During the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the Ulster Volunteer Force murdered more than 500 people. | During the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the Ulster Volunteer Force murdered more than 500 people. |
| The loyalist paramilitary group's campaign also claimed the lives of 33 people in bomb attacks in Dublin and Monaghan in 1974. | The loyalist paramilitary group's campaign also claimed the lives of 33 people in bomb attacks in Dublin and Monaghan in 1974. |
| The organisation's name dates back to the Protestant force formed to oppose Home Rule in 1912. | The organisation's name dates back to the Protestant force formed to oppose Home Rule in 1912. |
| The name was revived in 1966 as loyalists came together to oppose liberal unionism and what it saw as a rise in Irish nationalism, centred on the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising. | The name was revived in 1966 as loyalists came together to oppose liberal unionism and what it saw as a rise in Irish nationalism, centred on the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising. |
| The UVF's political wing, the Progressive Unionist Party, played a prominent role in the peace process and supported the 1998 Belfast Agreement. | The UVF's political wing, the Progressive Unionist Party, played a prominent role in the peace process and supported the 1998 Belfast Agreement. |
| 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 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 202 offences admitted by Haggarty had been committed during a "terrorist campaign over a 16-year period" between 1991 and 2007. | The judge said that the 202 offences admitted by Haggarty had been committed during a "terrorist campaign over a 16-year period" between 1991 and 2007. |
| 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". | 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". | 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". | The judge said that Haggarty had provided "a significant amount of information in relation to very serious criminal activity". |
| Keiran Fox, whose father, Eamon, was murdered by Haggarty, said he was a paid state informer who had been "allowed to kill at will". | |
| "How can a man convicted of so many crimes be set free into society? He might come across as a a nice guy but the man's a serial killer," Mr Fox said. | "How can a man convicted of so many crimes be set free into society? He might come across as a a nice guy but the man's a serial killer," Mr Fox said. |
| Five murders | Five murders |
| Haggarty admitted murdering: | Haggarty admitted murdering: |
| 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. | The judge also took into consideration a further 301 lesser offences in his judgement. |