Loyalist working for British ‘involved in murders’

A LOYALIST paramilitary working as a British security force agent was involved in a double murder during a bloody feud, it was claimed yesterday.

The allegation was made as an inquest into the murders four years ago of Jackie Coulter and Bobby Mahood was adjourned amid claims the security forces were protecting their source.

The two men were gunned down as they sat in a jeep outside a bookmaker’s in north Belfast in August 2000.

Mr Coulter, a senior UDA member, was a close associate of convicted UFF leader Johnny Adair.

Their families successfully applied for their inquest to be adjourned while they ask the police ombudsman’s office to address allegations that a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force working as a security force agent was involved.

Counsel for the Mahood family told the inquest that a complaint had already been made to the ombudsman’s office which concluded that there was no police misconduct in the cases.

The lawyer said this answer did not address their specific allegations, adding that the families wanted to raise another matter to the ombudsman’s office.

Coroner for Greater Belfast John Leckey agreed to adjourn the case while the families go back to the ombudsman to raise their concerns. “I will also write to the ombudsman’s investigator to advise him what happened this morning,” he added.

Outside the court Mr Mahood’s brother Jackie said they were in no doubt that an individual linked to the intelligence services was involved.

“This is a double murder that took place in broad daylight. It is one of quite a number of murders carried out by the UVF and not one person has been charged with any of these.

“Today was going to be the first time police were going to name what group carried out these murders. They have never been named before.

“It took three-and-a-half years to say who did it. Why?” he asked. The murders took place in August 2000 at the time of heightened tensions between the UDA and the UVF in the loyalist Shankill area of Belfast.

The two men, the first to be killed during the feud, were shot after the UDA carried out an attack on a UVF-controlled bar.

Attending yesterday’s inquest was Raymond McCord, whose son, also called Raymond, was murdered by a UVF gang in November 1997.

The ombudsman’s office is carrying out an investigation into his son’s killing.

He said: “This case was similar to my son. We are saying the security forces controlled the Ulster Volunteer Force.”