SAOIRSE32

RTÉ

30 July 2006 22:57

**See also 1996 Qana massacre

It is reported that Israel is to suspend air strikes in south Lebanon for 48 hours while it investigates the killing of more than 60 Lebanese civilians in an Israeli air strike on a residential building.

The move was announced by an aide to the US Secretary of State, following talks between Condoleezza Rice and Israeli officials in Jerusalem.

The US official also said Israel would also coordinate with the United Nations on a 24-hour period of ’safe passage’ for civilians that wish to leave southern Lebanon.

There has been strong international condemnation of an Israeli air strike on the southern village of Qana.

The United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has urged an emergency meeting of the Security Council to condemn the attack - the deadliest single incident in Israel’s 19-day-old war against Hezbollah militants.

He again asked council members to put aside differences and call for an immediate ceasefire.

The US Ambassador John Bolton made it clear Washington would back only what it calls an ‘enduring’ negotiated ceasefire, not an immediate truce.

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Dan Gillerman, told the Security Council that it should not play into Hezbollah’s hands.

He said that Qana was ‘a hub for Hezbollah’ and that Israel had called on civilians to leave the area before this morning’s attack.

Earlier, the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, expressed regret at the killing of civilians in Qana.

However, he was reported to have told Condoleezza Rice that Israel wanted to continue its offensive for up to two more weeks.

The displaced families who were killed in the incident had been sheltering in the basement of a house which was crushed after a direct hit.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora denounced what he called ‘Israeli war criminals’ and cancelled talks with Dr Rice that had been scheduled for today.

Mr Siniora has said he would not hold any talks on resolving the crisis until Israel declared a ceasefire.

Mr Siniora said: ‘There is no place on this sad morning for any discussion other than an immediate and unconditional ceasefire as well as an international investigation into the Israeli massacres in Lebanon now.’

Dr Rice, has said it is time for a ceasefire between Israel and Hizbollah militants.

Hundreds of Lebanese protesters staged a violent demonstration, ransacking the UN Headquarters in Beirut.

Taoiseach comments on deaths in Qana

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern has expressed his shock at the loss of life.

He said: ‘I am shocked and appalled at the news of the heavy loss of life in an Israeli airstrike on the village of Qana this morning. Reports indicate that the dead include a large number of children. I recall sadly that the people of Qana suffered a similar tragedy in 1996.

‘This event strongly underlines the clear message the Government has been giving out which is that an immediate ceasefire on all sides is urgently necessary. Military actions are only making a solution more difficult.

‘The Minister for Foreign Affairs will strongly represent Ireland’s views at an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Tuesday.’

Five Hezbollah guerrillas killed in south Lebanon

Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers killed five Hezbollah guerrillas during a new ground incursion into southern Lebanon this morning.

Tanks and troops exchanged fire with Hezbollah squads after crossing the border at the Israeli village of Metula in a search for guerrilla hideouts and rocket launchers.

RTÉ

30 July 2006 20:07

Many pilgrims climbing Croagh Patrick in Co Mayo have had to endure some of the worst conditions in recent years.

An estimated 20,000 people took part in the annual pilgrimage to the top of the mountain today.

Today saw the first scientific analysis of the pilgrims.

Civil Defence volunteers surveyed 11,000 of the pilgrims and found that two thirds were men, one third were women and that 5% of pilgrims came from outside the country.

220 people, which equated to 2% of the climbers, made the pilgrimage in their bare feet.

The pilgrimage started in difficult weather conditions, with high winds and torrential rain showers.

However, a steady stream of people made their way up the mountain from 6am to 3pm.

Archbishops Sean Brady and Michael Neary celebrated mass on the summit, with Dr Neary making a special appeal to parishes and communities around the country to reach out to Ireland’s immigrant families and show them support kindness and goodwill.

23 people sustained minor injuries or became ill and had to be taken off the mountain by stretcher or helicopter.

Two people were taken to hospital.

BBC

Hundreds attended a UDA show of strength

Representatives of the loyalist paramilitary UDA have met police and Protestant clergy in north Belfast to discuss a dispute within its ranks.

The UDA leadership said it wanted a peaceful resolution to its dispute with a “renegade faction”.

Several hundred people in the Shankill Road area attended a public show of strength by the UDA on Saturday.

It was in response to a stand-off between rival factions following the appointment of a new leadership.

On Friday, the UDA in north Belfast issued a statement saying it was replacing those who had remained loyal to Ihab and Andre Shoukri, who were expelled from the organisation last month.

Petrol bombs

In a statement issued on Saturday evening, the group’s so-called ‘inner council’ claimed that a crowd of 80 supporters of the Shoukri faction had attacked a number of homes.

It insisted that the organisation’s leadership wanted a “peaceful end” to the dispute and called on the police to deal with the situation.

But it said the organisation would respond if there were further attacks on its members.

On Friday night in north Belfast, police seized a shotgun, ammunition and petrol bombs following a stand-off between up to 80 members of rival UDA factions. One man has been charged.

More talks are believed to be planned for Monday.

BBC

Police are treating a fire which damaged a school classroom on the outskirts of north Belfast as arson.

Flammable liquid was poured through a window at Newtownabbey Community High School and set alight early on Sunday, a police spokesman said.

The fire caused extensive damage put at thousands of pounds to a music room and musical equipment.

Police have appealed for anyone with information about the incident to contact them.

Sunday Herald

Via Newshound

By Liam McDougall
30 July 2006

RANGERS football club is to resurrect a selection of “forgotten” non-sectarian songs from its past as part of an initiative to eradicate bigotry and hatred from the terraces.

The plan, to be introduced in the wake of threats from European football’s governing body Uefa that the club faces severe punishment if fans display sectarian behaviour, will include Rangers playing the songs over the ground’s PA system and issuing lyrics on match days.

It is hoped the move will provide an alternative repertoire for the club’s so-called “FTP Brigade”, whose continued chanting of anti-Catholic songs at matches has threatened Rangers’ participation in European competition.

The initiative will begin on Saturday – Rangers’ first home game of the new season – with the song Wolverhampton Town being played over the Ibrox public address system before the match.

It has been decades since fans at Ibrox have aired the song, which celebrates the club’s famous semi-final success against Wolves in the inaugural European Cup Winners’ Cup competition in 1961. More than 10,000 Rangers fans travelled to Molineux for the return leg.

It is understood the new measure was one of a number suggested by supporters’ groups during a series of pre-season meetings with Rangers chairman David Murray about how the club could tackle its sectarian element.

Other songs that fans are keen for the club to push this season include The Rangers Over Here and The Blue Sea of Ibrox. The supporters’ groups have also asked Rangers to encourage fans to sing the correct versions of long-standing songs, such as Follow Follow, that have been corrupted by a minority .

Stephen Smith, spokesman for Rangers Supporters Trust, which represents almost 3500 Ibrox shareholders, said the new initiative was about “offering people a positive alternative”.

Smith, whose organisation attended the meetings with Murray, added: “After the end of last season and the problems with Uefa we needed to address the issues that they raised.

“We sat round the table with Rangers, but instead of simply giving the message to fans ‘don’t sing this or that’ we wanted to say that here are good songs that celebrate Rangers’ proud history, so let’s give them a bash.

“Wolverhampton Town is one that will be resurrected this season. That’s one that my father and uncle used to sing.”

News of the initiative comes on the day that Rangers kick-start their league campaign. During the season Uefa have promised to scrutinise the conduct of Rangers fans.

In May, the club was fined £13,300 and severely criticised by Uefa after video evidence was presented at a hearing of Rangers fans singing The Billy Boys and chanting abusive slogans about the Pope.

Uefa officials have warned Rangers that further such behaviour could result in increased levels of punishment, including partial or full stadium closures to complete expulsion from European competitions.

On Friday, Murray appealed to supporters not to sing sectarian songs. If they did not, he said, their actions “jeopardised the future of the club”.

“We are creating initiatives for match days, we’ve been meeting supporters’ groups, we’ve been meeting editors of newspapers, we have been pleading with fans to show respect,” he said.

“If they don’t, be prepared for the consequences.”

Politicians and anti-sectarian groups welcomed Rangers’ initiative. Glasgow MSP Bill Butler said: “Both Rangers and Celtic have done their level best to tackle the problem of sectarianism. But it is not just a football problem.”

A spokesman for the anti-sectarian charity Nil by Mouth said: “It should be hoped the positive numbers amongst the Rangers support can have their voices heard above the sectarian element.”

Sunday Times

Via Newshound

Mark Macaskill
30 July 2006

THE Orange Order in Scotland is to hold religious tolerance classes for children under plans to combat sectarianism.

Youngsters will be invited to attend anti-bigotry workshops where they will learn about Islam and the Catholic faith and meet religious leaders.

Visits to Roman Catholic churches and mosques will also be organised to encourage young members to befriend people their own age and develop respect and understanding for other people’s beliefs.

The radical scheme, to be launched later this year, has been drawn up by senior Orangemen who are concerned that the movement has become synonymous with sectarianism in the west of Scotland.

They want their organisation to be seen as more inclusive by “throwing open” its doors to other faiths and grooming a new generation of more tolerant members.

Senior sources within the order say they have met Scottish executive officials who have welcomed the proposals and are prepared to fund a pilot scheme later this year for 20 youngsters aged eight to 16.

If the trial is a success, they intend to launch the scheme in the Order’s 80 junior lodges.

The Order, which comprises about 700 lodges based mainly in west Scotland, has about 2,500 youth members.

“I am keen to open doors on what some people see as a rather quaint, dated and bizarre organisation,” said Ian Wilson, the grandmaster of the Orange Order in Scotland.

“It’s part of our evolutionary process, we want to give our young people a much healthier outlook. Some people believe the Orange Order is a contributing factor to the sectarian problem and if there is a problem then we have to confront it ourselves.

“We need to reassess how we express ourselves in a changing multi-cultural society. Religion can no longer be defined in simple terms and the order has got to redefine itself. One of the hallmarks of democracy is to tolerate others’ beliefs. Tolerance comes from understanding and anything we can do to increase that is a good thing.”

The move follows mounting pressure to wipe out sectarianism which Jack McConnell, the first minister, has described as “Scotland’s shame”.

The problem is particularly acute in the west, where most of the Orange Order’s 50,000 members are based.

Historically, the marching season, when hundreds of Orange parades take place throughout Scotland, has been a trigger for sectarian violence.

Last year one of the largest Orange marches in Glasgow was overshadowed by 85 arrests for drunkenness and sectarian-related offences.

Sectarianism is also rife at Old Firm football matches. Both Rangers and Celtic face stiff fines this year from the Scottish Premier League if fans persist with discriminatory chants.

Last year a sectarian summit organised by the first minister was attended by representatives from the Old Firm, the Catholic church, the Church of Scotland and the Orange Order.

While liberal leaders of the Orange Order are keen to foster closer links with other faiths, the introduction of religious tolerance classes will antagonise grassroots members.

One, from Lanarkshire, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “For us to do this is to admit that in the past we were guilty of religious intolerance. This will not go down well with many members.”

However, Jim Slaven, national organiser for Cairde na hEireann, the Irish republican organisation which is based in Scotland, and who took part in last year’s sectarian summit, described the initiative as a significant step forward.

“The Orange Order has previously denied being guilty of religious intolerance but this is a recognition by them that there’s a problem within their support base. We welcome the idea, we need to have creative solutions and we need to target hard to reach people.”

David Alexander, vice- convener of the Kirk’s church and society council, said: “I am pleased to hear that the Orange Order is taking the issue of religious tolerance seriously.”

The Catholic church in Scotland said: “This is a welcome step forward by the Orange Order towards creating a more understanding society.

“Any chance to build bridges with people of goodwill must be seized.”

BBC

Several hundred people in the Shankill Road area of Belfast have attended a public show of strength by the loyalist paramilitary UDA.

Rival factions of the UDA clashed in Belfast on Friday

No trouble was reported at Saturday’s rally, which was held amid concerns about a possible feud within the UDA.

The UDA leadership accused a breakaway faction in north Belfast of attacking members and threatened to retaliate.

The display was in response to a stand-off between rival UDA factions in the Ballysillan area on Friday night.

The stand-off took place just hours after the UDA in north Belfast issued a statement saying it had appointed a new leadership.

Brothers expelled

It said it was replacing those who had remained loyal to Ihab and Andre Shoukri, who were expelled from the organisation last month.

In a statement issued on Saturday evening, the group’s so-called ‘inner council’ claimed that a crowd of 80 supporters of the Shoukri faction had attacked a number of homes.

It insisted that the organisation’s leadership wanted a “peaceful end” to the dispute and called on the police to deal with the situation.

But it said the organisation would respond if there were further attacks on its members.

On Friday night in north Belfast, police seized a shotgun, ammunition and petrol bombs following a stand-off between up to 80 members of rival UDA factions. One man has been charged.

Sunday Life

By Stephen Breen
30 July 2006

Pals of a hero Ulster soldier last night urged the Government to probe claims he was allowed to die to protect the identity of a Provo spy.

A petition has been launched in Carrickfergus by comrades of human bomb victim Cyril Smith QGM, after we revealed how a former Army officer said RUC Special Branch was aware of plans for the attack that claimed his life.

Although Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan is investigating the claims, the soldier’s friends want everyone in Carrick to back their campaign.

It’s been organised by John McKnight, who has known the Smith family for more than 20 years.

Said Mr McKnight: “A few of the boys were talking in the bar after the story about Cyril came out and we decided to do something.

“This sort of thing is new to us, but we thought that some kind of petition might be a good way for us to let the Government know they must not ignore these claims.

“We intend to distribute (the petition) throughout the area and we are sure that everyone - including all our politicians - will show support for the family.”

He added: “I knew Cyril from when he was a child and he was a very popular lad in Carrickfergus. We have never forgotten about him. The more names we have, the better.

“We were a bit surprised at the former Army officer’s claims, but, then again, this sort of thing has been going on for quite some time.”

The petition has been welcomed by the RIR man’s parents, Cyril and Bernie.

Said Mrs Smith: There is a lot of anger in Carrick about these claims and a lot of people have offered us their support.

“I’m very pleased with the petition and I hope it puts pressure on the Government to tell us the truth regarding my son’s murder.”

Cyril (21) died after an IRA bomb ripped through the permanent border vehicle checkpoint at Killeen, outside Newry, in October 1990.

He had just rescued James McAvoy (68), who was threatened that his sons would be shot if he did not drive the bomb to the checkpoint.

Cyril was running back to warn his comrades about the device when it exploded, killing him instantly.

He was awarded the Queen’s Medal for Gallantry.

No one has been charged with his murder and the case is currently being reviewed by the PSNI’s historical inquiries team.

Sunday Life

By Stephen Breen
30 July 2006

The man appointed by the UDA’s ruling ‘inner council’ to take control of north Belfast was once blasted in the leg by supporters of the Shoukris.

And Sunday Life can reveal the new ‘brigadier’ also escaped a kidnap attempt by the ousted leadership’s henchmen last Friday night.

A senior source said men loyal to the Shoukris and Alan McClean attempted to abduct the new leader in a bid to show the UDA leadership “they were going nowhere”.

But the kidnap plot was abandoned after cops flooded the area following the UDA’s announcement a new leadership was now in place.

We know the identity of the new brigadier, but cannot publish it for legal reasons.

Said the source: “McClean still thinks he’s in control and sent his men out to abduct the new leader to teach the inner council a lesson.

“I think they were just going to rough him up and tell him what would happen to anybody in the area who opposes them.

“They almost succeeded but the police were all over the area and they couldn’t do anything.

“If they had succeeded there could have been serious trouble because although the mainstream UDA are keen to avoid violence, they would have sent their men into the area.”

An inner council source told us the UDA would not “stand by” if opponents of the Shoukris were intimidated in north Belfast.

Added the source: “McClean is trying to hold his small group of supporters together after the formation of the new leadership and the defection of his one-time supporters to the mainstream.

“But if he thinks he can do this by intimidating UDA members loyal to the inner council then he is a very foolish man.

“The UDA leadership will not stand by while its members are intimidated and members from all over Northern Ireland are ready to show their support for their comrades in north Belfast.

“The UDA does not want to go down the road of violence and it is up to the police to stamp out this intimidation.

“Mainstream UDA members will not be leaving their homes in north Belfast and will stand up to this intimidation.”

The new brigadier was only allowed to return home last year after agreeing to be kneecapped.

He was exiled because of his links to Jim ‘the Bacardai Brigadier’ Simpson, who was an opponent of the Shoukris.

Tension still remains high in the Westland and Ballysillan areas and police are bracing themselves for attacks between rival factions.

Sunday Life

By Alan Murphy
30 July 2006

Over a dozen supporters of the UDA’s ‘inner council’ faction were routed from north Belfast on Friday night.

Some of the men suffered vicious beatings when the pro-Shoukri north Belfast ‘brigade’ descended on the Ballysillan area around 8pm and battered key figures who they say are linked to the east Belfast UDA ‘brigade’.

An approach from the UDA’s west Belfast ‘brigadier’ Matt Kincaid late on Friday through the south east Antrim ‘brigade’ to allow some of the men to return to Ballysillan was turned down flat.

Sources in the leadership of north Belfast said the dozen or more men driven from Ballysillan were identified as supporters of the inner council, who they claimed smashed a window in Andre Shoukri’s home last week and who claimed were the new ‘leadership’ of the UDA in the area.

“They began the trouble earlier this week but they won’t be doing it next week because they’ve been put out of the whole area,” one source said.

“We were letting them be until they began the messing last week and now they’re out, and if they come back in they’ll get more than a sore head.”

Local minister, the Rev Brian Madden, confirmed developments yesterday and said he hoped there would be no more trouble in the area.

“I don’t agree with any of the violence but we as churchmen are limited in what we can do. The people in the area don’t want to see any more trouble this week,” he said.

The UDA’s north Belfast leadership said hand-to-hand fighting took place on Friday night in Ballysillan when they approached a number of men they claimed caused unrest in the area last week.

“They were putting themselves forward as some sort of alternative leadership, now they’ve been sent packing,” one of the brigade’s leaders said yesterday.

“Matt Kincaid rang to see if they would be allowed back but he was told their departure was non-negotiable.

“We have no beef with Matt and the west Belfast ‘brigade’ but these people have been sent into the area by the south and east Belfast ‘brigades’ to cause trouble and they won’t be allowed back.

“If they do come back they can take what is coming to them. They are drug dealers, dope heads and criminals, and most of that has been stopped in the area.

“The sooner the inner council people realise that this is not going to be solved through violence the sooner we will have peace.

“At the moment there is no dialogue, so we will deal with whatever other way the message comes and if it comes through the crowd we put out on Friday night or their friends, then we’ll deal with them in a way they will understand.”

Sunday Life

By Alan Murray
30 July 2006

Supporters of the Shoukris last night warned the inner council not to understimate their determination to resist imposed leadership changes.

“We don’t want trouble but we are not backing down,” a senior figure warned.

“If they touch a hair on one head in this area they touch all of us, we are all friends and we are absolutely united.”

The warning was made after the inner council faction circulated a statement on Thursday night claiming the Shoukris’ supporters had been removed from the north Belfast leadership.

But on Friday in the Westland estate, members of the UDA loyal to the Shoukris “totally refuted” the claim.

“The Shoukris have the full backing of the leadership of the North Belfast Brigade Staff of the UDA, we are the leadership, there is no other leadership,” said one.

“The story that some of the Press swallowed was issued by faceless individuals who are trying to cause strife and trouble among young lads in the brigade.

“They won’t succeed but they are playing a dangerous game.”

The smashing of a window in Andre Shoukri’s Clare Glen home last week was the first indication that the dispute within the UDA would escalate.

On Friday morning two men were detained in the Westland Road area after police found a gun in a car.

Then a statement was circulated on behalf of the inner council claiming that it had installed a new leadership and that the Westland Road and Tigers Bay units had switched allegiance to it.

But on Friday afternoon the groups of young men on the streets in the area were supporters of the Shoukri brothers.

Said one Shourki supporter: “All the inner council crowd is doing is getting the backs up of people in this area. We have done nothing to raise the ante but they have. We’re not looking for trouble but if it comes our way we will deal with it.”

Sunday Life

By Stephen Breen
30 July 2006

A group of loyalist politicos are currently involved in talks with both the British and Irish governments while also trying to steer the UDA away from crime and violence.

Frankie Gallagher, the Ulster Political Research Group’s negotiator, believes the UDA is ready to move forward, following the removal of notorious crimelords from leadership positions.

He was joined in Dublin earlier this month by UPRG colleagues Davy Nicholl, Billy McQuiston and Colin Halliday.

Gallagher believes political stability in Northern Ireland will help the UDA move away from violence.

All four men have been providing political analysis to the UDA for the last 20 years.

Said Mr Gallagher: “The UPRG has been talking to the governments for the last three or four years but things have steadily moved on in last year or so.

“The basis of the talks has always been to seek a way forward and how we can all work in a peace process, and also in a political process.

“The problem in the past was that people like the Shoukris and the Grays, who held leadership positions in the UDA, were not interested in ideology.

“The only thing they were interested in was making money and defending their own position.

“But these barriers have now been removed and we can now focus on achieving a peaceful society.

“This aim is apparent, especially because of the position the UDA has taken in relation to the expulsions of the Shoukris from the north Belfast leadership.

“We have been telling the governments that if we can achieve political stability in this society, then I think we can achieve an end to all paramilitarism and deliver peace.”

Londonderry based Mr Nicholl also confirmed the recent talks would lead to the UPRG meeting with the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) over the coming weeks.

Added Mr Nicholl: “There has already been a sequence of meetings and more will be held in the future, including talks with IMC to discuss the activities of the UDA.

“We are trying to move beyond conflict.

“I would also like people to know that no demands have been made by the UDA for money.

“We are trying to move loyalism away from conflict and to leave the past behind.”

Although the men who provide analysis to UDA leaders have so far failed to persuade the terror group to hand over its weapons, hopes are now rising of a positive outcome to the ongoing talks.

Many believe it is the senior members of the Ulster Political Research Group who will eventually persuade the UDA’s ruling inner council to abandon violence.

The Government will be watching to see how the UDA can deal with the expelled north Belfast leadership.

And with notorious terrorists such as Johnny ‘Mad Dog’ Adair exiled and Jim ‘Doris Day’ Gray dead, the UPRG feels it can now complete the work of its predecessors in the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP).

But failure to oust the Shoukri faction bloodlessly in north Belfast would be a major setback.

sbreen@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Sunday Life

By Sinead McCavana
30 July 2006

Willie Frazer says he’s organising a march down Portadown’s Garvaghy Road.

He claims FAIR is planning to walk the contentious route accompanied by loyalist bandsmen.

Said Mr Frazer: “We haven’t applied to the Parades Commission yet, but we intend to.

“What we’re saying is, what about victims walking down the Garvaghy Road? Does that prove a problem too? Is it the truth then that nationalists really don’t want a Protestant about the place?”

FAIR is part of the umbrella Love Ulster movement that organised a parade in Dublin in February.

But the loyalist marchers were forced to abandon the plan when serious rioting broke out, injuring dozens including gardai.

“We hope to hold the (FAIR) parade within a few months,” he added. Love Ulster rallies are also planned for Ballymena, Coleraine and Portadown.

Sunday Life

By Ciaran McGuigan
30 July 2006

A gay supergrass who tried to have his own brother jailed for murder has had a desperate plea for help to flee the UK turned down by the Government.

Dessie Truesdale - who lives in constant fear of a revenge murder bid by his crack cocaine and heroin-dealing brother Ian Truesdale and Johnny Adair - pleaded with his local MP to secure money to flee his English bolthole.

But last week he was told by the MP, a senior member of Tony Blair’s Cabinet, that his request for a plane ticket out of the country had been refused.

Truesdale, who asked us not to name the MP for fear that it would help Adair’s cronies to track him down, said: “They wrote back to me just telling me to contact my local police, and said they would be able to advise me on my personal security.

“But I have already asked police to have a panic button installed - like the one Adair had in his home in Bolton - and for a front door that might slow them down a little if they come for me, but got nothing.

“To me, what the Government is saying is that the only way it is going to pay for me to be transported anywhere is in an ambulance - after I’ve been shot!

“I just wanted a flight out of this country before these people hunt me down.

“First Adair got out of jail and now Ian Truesdale has been released from jail, and they have told me they will track me down.”

Truesdale added: “When they are talking about handing the UDA £30 million, it makes me sick.

“They reward the terrorists and leave the people who tried to have the terrorists locked up to fend for themselves while they are in danger of their lives.”

Dessie Truesdale, himself a convicted drug dealer, says he started a gay relationship with one of Johnny Adair’s closest lieutenants in a bid to gather information to pass to police about Adair’s ‘C’ company.

He has also been involved in a bitter ‘custody’ dispute with Adair over the former Shankill terror chief’s Alsatian dogs Rebel and Shane, which Truesdale now keeps.

And statements given to police by Dessie Truesdale resulted in his brother Ian being arrested and charged in relation to the ‘C’ company murder of Jonathan Stewart - charges which were later withdrawn.

He was forced to flee Northern Ireland in 2003 after being attacked by the mainstream UDA and fled to England where he remains in hiding under the death threat.

cmcguigan@belfasttelegraph.co.uk