Former friend in dock over loyalist murder bid

ROGUE loyalist Mark Haddock’s one-time most trusted friend appeared in court yesterday accused of trying to kill him.

Darren Moore, 36, denies being part of the assassination plot against the alleged Special Branch agent.

Haddock, 37, was shot six times after getting out of his car for a meeting in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, last Tuesday.

The Ulster Volunteer Force, an outlawed loyalist paramilitary organisation, is believed to have been behind the murder bid on one of its former commanders.

Haddock, who once ran the UVF-controlled Mount Vernon estate in north Belfast, had been out on bail while on trial for the attempted killing of a nightclub doorman.

Moore had been charged with him over the attack on Trevor Gowdey in 2002, but the case against him was later dropped.

He was arrested by detectives investigating last week’s shooting, but after being charged, Belfast Magistrates’ Court was told, he replied: “I’m not guilty, could you check my alibis?”

Haddock remains seriously ill in hospital following the attempt on his life, which came as Northern Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan finalises her report into allegations that police Special Branch officers allowed loyalist paramilitary killers to operate without fear of prosecution.

Haddock is believed to have been the focus of the inquiry.

In court yesterday, Detective Inspector Gareth Nicholl insisted he could connect Moore, of Mount Vernon Park, North Belfast, with the attempted murder of his ex-associate.

During cross-examination, defence solicitor Eileen Ewing asked the officer: “Has the injured party, Mark Haddock, made a signed written statement of complaint?”

Mr Nicholl confirmed this had not yet happened.

Moore was remanded in custody until July 3 to appear again by video link.