This article is from the source 'bbc' 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 http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-17126475
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Verdicts being delivered in supergrass trial | Verdicts being delivered in supergrass trial |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The verdicts are being delivered in the UVF supergrass trial in Belfast. | The verdicts are being delivered in the UVF supergrass trial in Belfast. |
| Neil Pollock, 36, of Fortwilliam Gardens in Belfast, has been convicted of possessing items intended for terrorism. | |
| 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 so-called supergrasses, Robert and Ian Stewart. | It relied on the evidence of so-called supergrasses, Robert and Ian Stewart. |
| The BBC's Ireland Correspondent, Mark Simpson, said about 200 people were in the courtroom on Wednesday, including armed police. | |
| It is understood the judgement is about 123 pages long, but the judge is reading out an abbreviated version. | |
| The first verdict was tweeted from court, but then the judge banned reporters from using Twitter. | |
| Thirteen men had been charged with more than 30 offences including the murder of rival loyalist Tommy English, kidnapping, and UVF membership. | Thirteen men had been charged with more than 30 offences including the murder of rival loyalist Tommy English, 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. |
| 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. | 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 others who deny offences such as assisting offenders and perverting justice are William Hinds, 47, David McCrum, 32, and Mark Thompson, 37. | The others who deny offences such as assisting offenders and perverting justice are William Hinds, 47, David McCrum, 32, and Mark Thompson, 37. |
| 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. |
| The Ulster Defence Association member 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. | The Ulster Defence Association member 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. |