Police ‘have murder confession’

POLICE in Northern Ireland have a signed confession to the murder of an alleged loyalist drug dealer, an inquest heard yesterday.

A Special Branch informer is suspected of involvement in the killing of William ‘Wasy’ Paul in Bangor, Co Down, lawyers said. Paul, aged 49, was shot by former UVF comrades in 1998. Belfast coroner John Lecky adjourned the hearing into his death until the Court of Appeal rules on another shooting. A barrister for the dead man’s family said they believe the killer is being protected.

Philip Henry said: “There is suspicion surrounding the investigation of the alleged informant. There’s a signed confession in the PSNI to the murder of Mr Paul.”

However, Detective Inspector Jeff Smith said he knew nothing of any signed admission. But he was aware of a documentary in which a former CID officer and an alleged informer both say the confession was made.