Man charged with loyalist feud murder

A 23-year-old man was charged today with a murder linked to a feud within loyalist paramilitaries in Belfast.

He will appear before the city's magistrates court tomorrow charged with the murder of Jonathan Stewart.

Mr Stewart, 22, was shot dead at a party two days after Christmas last year during a bitter power struggle within the Ulster Defence Association, which ultimately claimed five lives.

The victim, who was the nephew of a well-known loyalist but not thought to be involved in any paramilitary organisation, was standing in the kitchen of a house in Manor St, north Belfast, when a masked assassin forced his way in and singled him out.

The killer shot Mr Stewart up to six times before fleeing.

Both security and loyalist sources indicated the shooting was carried out by a gunman from jailed paramilitary boss Johnny Adair's C company faction.