This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jan/29/northern-ireland-uvf-chief-turned-informant-gary-haggarty-jailed
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland: UVF chief turned informant Gary Haggarty jailed | Northern Ireland: UVF chief turned informant Gary Haggarty jailed |
| (13 days later) | |
| A self-confessed Ulster loyalist paramilitary and paid police informant has been sentenced to more than six years in jail for terrorist offences, including five murders. | A self-confessed Ulster loyalist paramilitary and paid police informant has been sentenced to more than six years in jail for terrorist offences, including five murders. |
| Gary “Cowhead” Haggarty was originally sentenced to 35 years but had his jail time reduced due to his cooperation with police. | Gary “Cowhead” Haggarty was originally sentenced to 35 years but had his jail time reduced due to his cooperation with police. |
| He was a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force’s notorious Mount Vernon unit in north Belfast. | He was a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force’s notorious Mount Vernon unit in north Belfast. |
| The “supergrass” turned against his former comrades by becoming a state witness in 2009. Haggarty provided information about 55 UVF murders and 20 attempted murders. | The “supergrass” turned against his former comrades by becoming a state witness in 2009. Haggarty provided information about 55 UVF murders and 20 attempted murders. |
| His testimonies were based on more than 1,000 interviews with detectives in Northern Ireland. | His testimonies were based on more than 1,000 interviews with detectives in Northern Ireland. |
| However, only one man has been jailed as a result of Haggarty’s evidence. Others in the UVF who he named will not face prosecution because the state ruled it did not have enough additional evidence to charge them. | However, only one man has been jailed as a result of Haggarty’s evidence. Others in the UVF who he named will not face prosecution because the state ruled it did not have enough additional evidence to charge them. |
| The crimes Haggarty faced prosecution over included the sectarian killing of workers Eamon Fox and Gary Convie. | The crimes Haggarty faced prosecution over included the sectarian killing of workers Eamon Fox and Gary Convie. |
| The two Catholic men were murdered at a building site in the loyalist end of North Queen Street in north Belfast in May 1994, just a few months before the Ulster loyalist terror groups declared a ceasefire. | The two Catholic men were murdered at a building site in the loyalist end of North Queen Street in north Belfast in May 1994, just a few months before the Ulster loyalist terror groups declared a ceasefire. |
| Haggarty, who is in his mid-40s, had pleaded guilty to the 202 terrorism-related charges, including five murders. | Haggarty, who is in his mid-40s, had pleaded guilty to the 202 terrorism-related charges, including five murders. |
| He has previously been given five life sentences, but these will be significantly reduced given that he is agreed to become an “assisting offender” under the terms of the Serious Organised Crime Police Act. | He has previously been given five life sentences, but these will be significantly reduced given that he is agreed to become an “assisting offender” under the terms of the Serious Organised Crime Police Act. |
| Under sections 71-75 of this legislation, the Public Prosecution Service says a framework is provided “for agreements to be made with offenders who have offered to assist the investigation or prosecution of offences committed by others. This can include considering a formal agreement under which an offender is willing to assist with a view to obtaining a reduced sentence.” | Under sections 71-75 of this legislation, the Public Prosecution Service says a framework is provided “for agreements to be made with offenders who have offered to assist the investigation or prosecution of offences committed by others. This can include considering a formal agreement under which an offender is willing to assist with a view to obtaining a reduced sentence.” |
| An investigation into the activities of Haggarty and the Mount Vernon UVF by former police ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Lady Nuala O’Loan, found that he was working as a special branch informant inside the organisation even while he was involved in murders, so-called punishment beatings and bomb attacks. | An investigation into the activities of Haggarty and the Mount Vernon UVF by former police ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Lady Nuala O’Loan, found that he was working as a special branch informant inside the organisation even while he was involved in murders, so-called punishment beatings and bomb attacks. |
| The north Belfast loyalist turned police agent has been living at a secret location in England for the last seven years. In that time, Haggarty, who was known to his associates as “Cowhead”, has completed a computer science degree. | The north Belfast loyalist turned police agent has been living at a secret location in England for the last seven years. In that time, Haggarty, who was known to his associates as “Cowhead”, has completed a computer science degree. |
| Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland |
| Belfast | Belfast |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |