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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Loyalist held over four murders | Loyalist held over four murders |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Loyalist leader Mark Haddock has been arrested in connection with four murders dating back to the 1990s. | Loyalist leader Mark Haddock has been arrested in connection with four murders dating back to the 1990s. |
| He is being questioned about the murders of John Harbinson in May 1997, Gary Convie and Eamon Fox in March 1994 and Sharon McKenna in January 1993. | He is being questioned about the murders of John Harbinson in May 1997, Gary Convie and Eamon Fox in March 1994 and Sharon McKenna in January 1993. |
| Haddock was arrested by officers from the Historical Enquiries Team. | Haddock was arrested by officers from the Historical Enquiries Team. |
| Police said the 40-year-old, who is being held at Antrim Police Station, is also being questioned about a number of assaults and a shooting incident. | Police said the 40-year-old, who is being held at Antrim Police Station, is also being questioned about a number of assaults and a shooting incident. |
| The senior UVF figure is currently serving a 10-year sentence in Maghaberry prison for attacking a club doorman. | The senior UVF figure is currently serving a 10-year sentence in Maghaberry prison for attacking a club doorman. |
| Earlier this year, Haddock was charged with the murder of rival loyalist, UDA leader Tommy English, in 2000. | Earlier this year, Haddock was charged with the murder of rival loyalist, UDA leader Tommy English, in 2000. |
| A spokesman said a total of 16 people had now been arrested under Operation Ballast. He said 11 of those had been charged and four were the subject of reports to the PPS. | A spokesman said a total of 16 people had now been arrested under Operation Ballast. He said 11 of those had been charged and four were the subject of reports to the PPS. |
| Operation Ballast was launched after former Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan's investigation into allegations of collusion between RUC officers and the Mount Vernon unit of the UVF in north Belfast. | |
| Parliamentary privilege | |
| The investigation was triggered on the back of a complaint by Raymond McCord snr, the father of a UVF victim Raymond McCord jnr, who had claimed no-one had been prosecuted for his son's killing in order to protect Haddock. | |
| In October 2005, the Irish Labour TD Pat Rabbitte, using parliamentary privilege, named Haddock as a British Special Branch agent and a serial killer. | |
| He said his victims included the four killings he is now being questioned about. |