Family of murdered Loyalist facing death threats, claims brother

DEATH threats have been issued against the family of murdered Belfast loyalist Alan McCullough, it was claimed yesterday.

As the one-time ally of jailed terror boss Johnny Adair was being buried, his brother Kenny said the Ulster Defence Association was now plotting further attacks.

The loyalist paramilitary organisation, which killed the 21-year-old and dumped him in a shallow grave, have allegedly targeted the rest of the McCullough family because of statements given to police.

Detectives have warned Mr McCullough, his mother and four sisters their lives were in danger, he said.

He added: “Police just brought me the threat and gave me information about my personal protection and security. They said they are going to intensify their security presence in the area.”

The UDA said it murdered Alan McCullough because of his role in the assassination of Adair’s bitter foe in the organisation, John Gregg.

Two senior Belfast loyalists, William “Mo” Courtney, 39, and Ihab Shoukri, 29, have since been charged with the killing and membership of the UDA’s military wing, the Ulster Freedom Fighters.

Gregg, the paramilitary commander who shot Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, was gunned down near Belfast docks in February at the height of a brutal feud which claimed four lives.

Days later, members of Adair’s splinter C Company faction were driven out of their powerbase in west Belfast’s Lower Shankill estate.

McCullough, the unit’s military commander, was among the group who fled to Scotland and Lancashire.

He returned to Northern Ireland last month after apparently negotiating to have the death sentence against him lifted, but disappeared weeks later when two top UDA men called at his house. The murder provoked a wave of anger in the Lower Shankill area.

It was a second devastating loss for the victim’s mother, Barbara, whose husband, UDA leader William McCullough was shot dead by Republicans 21 years ago.

Mrs McCullough and her son were both outspoken in their condemnation of the gang who abducted and killed Alan McCullough.

Even with the alleged new threat against them, Kenny, hit out at their tactics. He said: “They have just no respect for anybody at all. My mother went through this 22 years ago with my father and they are just showing a complete disregard for my mother and what she went through.”

But loyalist sources close to the UDA denied any decision to target the family had been taken.

One said: “You get idiots who pick up the phone and claim they represent everyone. It’s a free country and this family is entitled to their own views.

“You have to expect that after suffering a loss like that. But I have heard nothing about retaliation.”