Gary Haggarty claims he 'scuppered' UVF bid to murder 19 Catholics, court told

Gary Haggarty told a double murder trial on Tuesday that he “scuppered” a UVF plan to kill 19 Catholic men on a bus in 1994.

Smyth is charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, possession of a firearm and membership of a proscribed organisation, the UVF. He has denied the five charges. He had previously told the court that his role in the murders of Mr Fox and Mr Convie included tampering with fencing near the building site and moving guns. He had also previously said he first joined the UVF in early 1991, and then worked as an informer for then police force the RUC’s special branch from 1993 to 2004.

When Mr Justice O’Hara asked Haggarty if Catholics working in Tiger’s Bay and Rathcoole were “easy targets if you wanted to retaliate”, Haggarty replied: “Yes, they were very easy targets.” He has also claimed the murders were planned by the UVF’s Military Commander and its Director of Operations and named the man who pulled the trigger as James Smyth.

He claimed he was told two republicans working on the building site were going to be targeted - but said he was surprised there were any republican workmen as he believed it was being run by the UDA and there were “only Protestants working on the site”.

Source: Law Daily Report (lawdailyreport.net)

United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Gary Haggarty says double murder accused was 'unhappy' he didn't kill third manEamon Fox and Gary Convie were killed in a UVF gun attack in 1994
Source: BelfastLive - 🏆 16. / 77 Read more »

Troubles: 1994 UVF double murder 'pure sectarianism'A court has heard from former UVF leader Gary Haggarty about the murder of two Catholic men in 1994.
Source: BBCNewsNI - 🏆 95. / 52 Read more »

UVF knew Belfast gun victims not republicans, trial hearsEx-UVF commander Gary Haggarty gives evidence as a man is accused of a 1994 double murder.
Source: BBCNewsNI - 🏆 95. / 52 Read more »

Gary O’Neil determined to repay Wolves for their faith after Bournemouth sackingO’Neil was dismissed by the Cherries in June but was handed a three-year deal by their Premier League rivals Wolves in August.
Source: Glasgow_Times - 🏆 76. / 59 Read more »

Gary O’Neil determined to repay Wolves for their faith after Bournemouth sackingO’Neil was dismissed by the Cherries in June but was handed a three-year deal by their Premier League rivals Wolves in August.
Source: Observer_Owl - 🏆 18. / 72 Read more »

Gary Neville identifies three signings Chelsea must make as ‘blueprint’ for success is revealedGary Neville has named three signings he thinks Chelsea need to make to give Mauricio Pochettino the tools to mount a serious top-four challenge.
Source: F365 - 🏆 5. / 97 Read more »