Prosecutors Defend Supergrass Trial

Police and prosecutors are today defending their decision to bring the so-called supergrass trial to court.

Twelve men walked free yesterday after a 71-day trial that will more than likely cost the taxpayer millions of pounds.

Supporters of the acquitted have demanded an end to so-called "supergrass" testimony after the judge damned two key prosecution witnesses who turned state's evidence. But prosecutors have said findings were not a criticism of the policy of using so-called "accomplice evidence" in court.

Yesterday Neil Pollock, 36, of Fortwilliam Gardens in Belfast was convicted of processing items intended for terrorism. While 12 out of the 13 were acquitted of all charges.

The judge said in the case of this trial: "These are witnesses of very bad character who have lied to the police and to the court; on some occasions wrongly implicated a number of men who were clearly not present at the crimes suggested".

The judgement was understood to be over 100 pages long but the judge read an abbreviated version to the court.

Commenting on the verdict in the UVF supergrass trial, Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said: "At the outset of this process we raised serious concerns about the decision to proceed with a supergrass trial and the quality of this PSNI investigation. This process has done nothing to bring truth and closure to the victims families of the Mount Vernon UVF."

The 13 men appeared in court during the trial charged with more than 30 offences.

The accused include Mark Haddock (43), Maghaberry Prison, David Miller (40), Upritchard Court, Bangor, John Bond (45), Essex Court, Carrickfergus, Darren Stuart Moore (42), Mount Vernon Park, Belfast, Alexander Thomas Wood (35), Milewater Way, Newtownabbey, Jason Loughlin (36), Bryson Court, Newtownabbey, Ronald Trevor Bowe (35), Ross House, Belfast, Samuel Jason Higgins (36), The Meadow, Antrim, Neil Pollock (36), Fortwilliam Gardens, Belfast, David Samuel McCrum (32), Beechgrove Drive, NewtownabbeWilliam Hinds (47), Ballycraigy Gardens, Newtownabbey, Mark Thompson (37), Ballyvesey Green, Newtownabbey and Phillip Laffin (34), Bridge Street, Antrim.

(LB/GK)