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Northern Ireland on high alert as supergrass trial nears end Northern Ireland on high alert as supergrass trial nears end
(about 1 hour later)
Security forces in Northern Ireland are on high alert as a judge prepares to deliver his verdict in a so-called supergrass trial against 13 suspected loyalist terrorists. The first of the 13 defendants in the Northern Ireland loyalist supergrass trial has been found guilty.
Neil Pollock, 36, of Belfast, has been convicted of possession of items intended for terrorism.
Mr Justice Gillen is still deliberating on his judgment in the non-jury trial. Earlier he banned reporters from tweeting from inside the court.
Security forces in Northern Ireland are on high alert as the judge delivered his verdict in the 71-day trial involving 13 suspected Ulster Volunteer Force members.
Army bomb disposal officers are dealing with a suspect device attached to the railings of a Catholic girls secondary school in north Belfast . The device was found at Our Lady of Mercy school on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast on Wednesday morning.Army bomb disposal officers are dealing with a suspect device attached to the railings of a Catholic girls secondary school in north Belfast . The device was found at Our Lady of Mercy school on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast on Wednesday morning.
The heightened security around Belfast comes as Mr Justice Gillen considers his judgment in a 71-day trial of alleged Ulster Volunteer Force members.
The trial, which is one of the most expensive in Northern Ireland legal history, rests on the testimony of brothers Robert and Ian Stewart who agreed to give evidence against fellow loyalists in return for shorter sentences.The trial, which is one of the most expensive in Northern Ireland legal history, rests on the testimony of brothers Robert and Ian Stewart who agreed to give evidence against fellow loyalists in return for shorter sentences.
The 13 defendants include Mark Haddock, the alleged leader of the UVF in the Mount Vernon area of north Belfast who faces a litany of charges, including the murder of rival loyalist Tommy English 12 years ago. English was shot on Halloween night 2000 during a feud between the UVF and the Ulster Defence Association.The 13 defendants include Mark Haddock, the alleged leader of the UVF in the Mount Vernon area of north Belfast who faces a litany of charges, including the murder of rival loyalist Tommy English 12 years ago. English was shot on Halloween night 2000 during a feud between the UVF and the Ulster Defence Association.
The Stewart brothers alleged in a Belfast court that Haddock and eight of his co-accused were involved in the murder.The Stewart brothers alleged in a Belfast court that Haddock and eight of his co-accused were involved in the murder.
Four others stand accused of lesser offences including assisting offenders, perverting the course of justice, and meting out paramilitary beatings.Four others stand accused of lesser offences including assisting offenders, perverting the course of justice, and meting out paramilitary beatings.
A 14th man accused walked free from court last month after Mr Justice John Gillen, who is sitting without a jury, ruled that he had no case to answer.A 14th man accused walked free from court last month after Mr Justice John Gillen, who is sitting without a jury, ruled that he had no case to answer.
The trial has been controversial, with supporters of the accused likening the case to high-profile trials in the 1980s, when dozens of both loyalist and republican paramilitaries were jailed on the evidence of former colleagues who turned state's evidence.The trial has been controversial, with supporters of the accused likening the case to high-profile trials in the 1980s, when dozens of both loyalist and republican paramilitaries were jailed on the evidence of former colleagues who turned state's evidence.
Sitting for 21 weeks, the trial of Haddock and his co-accused has been one of the longest in Northern Ireland's legal history and is set to be one of the most expensive.Sitting for 21 weeks, the trial of Haddock and his co-accused has been one of the longest in Northern Ireland's legal history and is set to be one of the most expensive.
The 13 accused face other charges including UVF membership, wounding, possessing guns and hijacking mainly carried out by the Mount Vernon unit.The 13 accused face other charges including UVF membership, wounding, possessing guns and hijacking mainly carried out by the Mount Vernon unit.
The case was prompted by Operation Ballast, an investigation by Northern Ireland's then Police Ombudsman, Lady Nuala O'Loan, into alleged collusion between the security forces and members of the UVF in the city.The case was prompted by Operation Ballast, an investigation by Northern Ireland's then Police Ombudsman, Lady Nuala O'Loan, into alleged collusion between the security forces and members of the UVF in the city.