UDA expels two senior members of notorious Antrim unit

The Ulster Defence Association has expelled two leading members of its one of its most notorious paramilitary units.

Tommy Kirkham and Gary Fisher have both been thrown out of the south-east Antrim unit by the organisation's ruling "inner council".

The unit was responsible for dozens of murders, including that of Protestant teenager Gavin Brett in 2001.

In recent times, Mr Kirkham has been part of the leadership of the Ulster Political Research Group, effectively the political wing of the UDA.

He fell out with the UDA's mainstream leadership last summer and caused public outcry in October when he demanded £8.5m (€12.5m) from the British government in return for disbanding the south-east Antrim unit.