Loyalist Haddock charged with murder
News Letter
07 January 2009
TOP loyalist Mark Haddock appeared in court on Thursday charged with the murder of UDA man Tommy English.
Belfast Magistrates Court was told the case against Haddock was based on the statements made by two brothers linked to the crime.
Last month, two brothers – 38-year-old David Stewart and Robert Stewart, 34 – from Newtownabbey, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting Mr English’s murder.
English, who had been involved in a loyalist delegation which took part in talks at Stormont prior to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, was gunned down at his home in 2000.
His killing was part of a shooting war between rival UDA and UVF factions which claimed seven lives.
Haddock, 40, appeared in court amid heavy security after he was charged in prison by officers from the Historical Enquiries Team - a specialist police unit set up to prove unsolved killings from the Northern Ireland Troubles.
He is also accused of membership of the Ulster Volunteer Force between 1996 and 2000.
Bearded and waving to friends in the public gallery, he listened as defence barrister Mark Farrell cross examined a detective sergeant who connected the accused on behalf of the HET.
Mr Farrell claimed the case against his client was based solely on evidence from the Stewart brothers.
He said: “These two witnesses… have made lengthy statements implicating Mr Haddock and eight to ten others in involvement in this murder.”
After the detective replied that it was Haddock and others, Mr Farrell pointed out that David and Robert Stewart were originally charged with murdering Mr English.
He asked: “Have these two brothers been offered any incentive, either financially or otherwise, under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005?”
The officer answered: “I wouldn’t describe it as an incentive, but they are being dealt with under that legislation.”
Continuing his cross examination, the lawyer suggested there was no forensic evidence linking Haddock to the murder.
He was told none had been gathered at this stage, although forensic analysis was ongoing.
“There’s an awful lot of work to to in this case. This case could take a long time to come to trial,” the detective said.
Mr Farrell was also told the decision to charge Haddock had nothing to do with the fact he is due to be released next week after completing his sentence for attacking Trevor Gowdy outside a social club near north Belfast in December 2002.
Haddock, formerly from Mount Vernon in north Belfast, survived an assassination attempt before being sent to jail.
He is currently locked in a High Court battle to win a ban against the media reporting his whereabouts and planned name change once he is freed.
He was remanded in custody to appear again via video link next Monday.
