Bungled attempt at UDA coup leads to loyalist street tensions

TENSIONS were high in the loyalist community in north Belfast yesterday after a bungled attempt to overthrow UDA leaders in a fall-out over money.

Leading loyalist Jim Simpson, known as “the Bacardi Brigadier”, is believed to have fled to Scotland after he failed to overthrow the leadership of the Ulster Defence Association in north Belfast.

Security sources revealed yesterday that several loyalists had taken part in the coup under the mistaken belief that it was sanctioned by the UDA leadership.