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Verdicts being delivered in supergrass trial Nine men cleared of murdering UDA man Tommy English
(about 1 hour later)
The verdicts are being delivered in the UVF supergrass trial in Belfast. Nine men involved in the UVF supergrass trial in Belfast have been acquitted of the murder of UDA leader Tommy English.
Neil Pollock, 36, of Fortwilliam Gardens in Belfast, has been convicted of possessing items intended for terrorism. They include the alleged former UVF leader in north Belfast Mark Haddock.
Thirteen men had been charged with more than 30 offences including the murder of rival loyalist Mr English, kidnapping, and UVF membership.
Twelve out of the 13 were acquitted of all charges. Neil Pollock, 36, was convicted of possessing items intended for terrorism.
He was also convicted of intent to pervert the course of justice.
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. In his href="http://www.courtsni.gov.uk/en-GB/Judicial%20Decisions/SummaryJudgments/Documents/Summary%20of%20judgment%20-%20R%20v%20Mark%20Haddock%20and%20others/j_sj_R-v-Mark-Haddock-and-others_220212.html" >judgement, Mr Justice Gillen told Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday that the Stewart brothers had been "ruthless terrorists who had lived on a daily diet of lies".
It is understood the judgement is about 123 pages long, but the judge is reading out an abbreviated version. He said there were still "the same men in different suits".
The first verdict was tweeted from court, but then the judge banned reporters from using Twitter. The judge said: "These are witnesses of very bad character who have lied to the police and to the court; on some occasions wrongly implicated a number of men who were clearly not present at the crimes suggested".
Thirteen men had been charged with more than 30 offences including the murder of rival loyalist Tommy English, kidnapping, and UVF membership. He said that on "other occasions, at worst, (they) falsely embellished or, at best, wildly confused the roles and words of those whom they alleged were present, have clear difficulties distinguishing one crime scene from another and have given evidence which is flatly contradicted by unchallenged independent evidence throughout the process".
They include the alleged former UVF leader in north Belfast Mark Haddock. Mr Justice Gillen said the ongoing advances in forensic science and the limited statutory abolition of the rule against double jeopardy might ensure that those who committed these crimes will "yet face their just desserts".
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. Earlier, the court heard Pollock was convicted because a witness had seen him buying a sledgehammer and he admitted buying it. It was believed to have been used in the English murder.
They also face other charges including UVF membership, wounding, possessing guns and hijacking. The BBC's Ireland Correspondent, Mark Simpson, said about 200 people were in the courtroom, including armed police.
The others who deny offences such as assisting offenders and perverting justice are William Hinds, 47, David McCrum, 32, and Mark Thompson, 37. Acquitted of Mr English's murder along with Mark Haddock were 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 were also cleared of other charges including UVF membership, wounding, possessing guns and hijacking.
The others acquitted of offences including assisting offenders and perverting the course of justice were 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 was 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 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.