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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UVF supergrass trial - ruling due | UVF supergrass trial - ruling due |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A judge is to give his ruling in the UVF supergrass trial in Belfast on Wednesday. | A judge is to give his ruling in the UVF supergrass trial in Belfast on Wednesday. |
| The trial, which ended last month after 71 days, was one of the longest and most expensive in Northern Ireland's legal history. | The trial, which ended last month after 71 days, was one of the longest and most expensive in Northern Ireland's legal history. |
| It relied on the evidence of two so-called supergrasses, brothers Robert and Ian Stewart. | It relied on the evidence of two so-called supergrasses, brothers Robert and Ian Stewart. |
| Thirteen men are charged with more than 30 offences including murder, kidnapping, and UVF membership. | Thirteen men are charged with more than 30 offences including murder, kidnapping, and UVF membership. |
| They include the alleged former UVF leader in north Belfast Mark Haddock. | They include the alleged former UVF leader in north Belfast Mark Haddock. |
| A 14th defendant, David Jason Smart, 38, from Milewater Close, Newtownabbey, was freed from the dock after the court heard that the prosecution was not challenging the judge's ruling that he had no case to answer. | A 14th defendant, David Jason Smart, 38, from Milewater Close, Newtownabbey, was freed from the dock after the court heard that the prosecution was not challenging the judge's ruling that he had no case to answer. |
| The prosecution also did not challenge the judge's decision to acquit several others of involvement in two punishment beatings. | The prosecution also did not challenge the judge's decision to acquit several others of involvement in two punishment beatings. |
| However, at the time Mr Justice Gillen said his finding on those charges did not apply to the evidence of the Stewart brothers relating to the murder of UDA man Tommy English in Newtownabbey, another punishment beating and to the allegations of UVF membership. | However, at the time Mr Justice Gillen said his finding on those charges did not apply to the evidence of the Stewart brothers relating to the murder of UDA man Tommy English in Newtownabbey, another punishment beating and to the allegations of UVF membership. |
| Accused of Mr English's murder along with Mark Haddock are David Miller, 40; Alex Wood, 35; John Bond, 45; Darren Moore, 42; Ronald Bowe, 35; Samuel Higgins, 36; Jason Loughlin, 36, and Philip Laffin, 34. | |
| They also face other charges including UVF membership, wounding, possessing guns and hijacking. | They also face other charges including UVF membership, wounding, possessing guns and hijacking. |
| The four who deny offences such as assisting offenders and perverting justice are William Hinds, 47, David McCrum, 32, Mark Thompson, 37, and Neil Pollock, 36. | |
| The trial began last September. | The trial began last September. |
| Much of it has been taken up by the testimonies of Robert and Ian Stewart. | Much of it has been taken up by the testimonies of Robert and Ian Stewart. |
| They have admitted UVF membership, and already served more than three years for their part in the murder of Mr English on Halloween night 2000. | They have admitted UVF membership, and already served more than three years for their part in the murder of Mr English on Halloween night 2000. |
| He was shot dead in front of his wife and children at his home on the Ballyduff estate at the height of a loyalist feud between the UVF and UDA. | He was shot dead in front of his wife and children at his home on the Ballyduff estate at the height of a loyalist feud between the UVF and UDA. |