04 February 2003

Two men released without charge after double murder

Two men who had been arrested in connection with the murder of UDA chief John Gregg and UDA member Robert Carson have been released without charge.

According to a local newspaper, one of the pair is believed to have taken over command of the UDA's C Company while its chief – Johnny Adair – languishes in Maghaberry Prison. The men were released last night.

John Gregg, who was sentenced to 18 years for a murder attempt on Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, was killed along with Carson as they headed home from a trip to Scotland on Saturday night.

It is widely believed that Adair's C Company were responsible for the double killing.

In response to the rising tide of loyalist violence, PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde said that there were now 70 detectives dedicated to countering violence associated with the UDA feud. That represents around one third of the total number of detectives operating in Belfast.

Mr Orde said that the move, along with increased numbers of army personnel deployed in the province, indicated that security forces were reacting to the threat posed by paramilitaries.

Elsewhere, Security Minister Jane Kennedy has praised the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) in restricting the activity of crime gangs – criminal enterprises to which loyalist and republican paramilitary groups are deeply involved.

Ms Kennedy said: "The combined forces of the law enforcement agencies in the OCTF means there is no hiding place for drug dealers, smugglers or fraudsters in our society and we are determined to track them down.

"I would encourage the public to think about their role in helping to defeat organised crime. People should know that these crooks are essentially ruthless traders whose only goal is to make themselves rich at the expense of the law-abiding public."

(GMcG)