Hotel staff in Belfast stumbled on a gun running racket – two days before the start of the Giro d’Italia.

The Sunday World can reveal that packages posted to the Holiday Inn – a few hundred yards from the Giro finish line – were found to contain component parts for AK47 assault rifles. 

It is not clear for whom the parts were destined but the Russian-made rifle is the favoured gun for terrorist organisations across the world.

Anti-terror cops raced to the city centre hotel in Belfast after sealed parcels awaiting collection, were found to contain the rifle parts. 

As a hush-hush security operation got underway to discover the origin of the arms parts, staff at the Holiday Inn on the city’s Ormeau Avenue, were sworn to secrecy.

It is believed the authorities were anxious to keep details of the terror alert under wraps following months of painstaking preparations for the Giro d’Italia cycle race which started in earnest on Friday night. 

First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness even set aside recent serious political rows to pose for photographs, as the cycle race bonanza got underway.

As crowds of enthusiastic supporters thronged the streets this weekend, there was no sign on Ormeau Avenue that only days before, the area had been the focus of a major security alert.

Last night, police confirmed a man and woman had been arrested in connection with the case, but had both been released.

In recent years, the city centre area around four star Holiday Inn hotel, has become a mecca for tourists as well as local revellers. Since the ending of the troubles, it has been transformed into one of the busiest leisure district

After examination, PSNI anti-terror cops removed the AK 47 parts from the hotel premises for further examination. And two people, a man and a woman, both 33, were arrested.

It is understood, that as part of a plan to maintain a front of normality prior to the start of the Giro, the PSNI also slapped a blanket ban on releasing information regarding the rifles to the press. 

Security bosses were worried in case leaked details of a gunrunning plot jeopardised the start of the world-wide international cycling event, which kicked off with practice rounds on Thursday night.

The Northern Ireland section of this global event will finish here to today, before moving on to the Republic and then right across Europe to the finishing line in Trieste in northern Italy in three weeks time.

However, as TV camera crews beamed stunning pictures of the pink-drenched city and the cycling spectacular around the globe, a squad of anti-terror detectives were still busy trying to track down the people behind the gun smuggling.

And we have been told the police may now be working on the premise that local drugs gangs may were behind the AK 47 rifle plot. 

Detectives are believed to be investigating the possibility that in the run up to the Giro, an unknown group or individual may have booked accommodation at the Holiday Inn hotel opposite the BBC’s Broadcasting House HQ.

We have been told that concierge staff at the Holiday Inn may have been advised by a mystery guest to expect delivery of a number of parcels. 

However, a number of sealed parcels were left uncollected. And when the packages were opened, the AK 47 rifle components parts were found. 

The Sunday World has been told that the discovery of a distinctive ‘banana-style’ AK 47 rifle magazine sent shockwaves through security staff.

Last night a spokesman for the PSNI said: “One male and one female, both 33 years old, were arrested on suspicion of possession of firearms in suspicious circumstances, following a report of a suspicious object.They were later released unconditionally.”

A Northern Irish woman has claimed she was gang raped by five men on a stag party in the Republic of Ireland.

Gardai are investigating allegations that the woman, who was visiting the the Republic for a hen party, was attacked and raped by five men in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim.

Gardai have interviewed five men at the centre of the woman's allegations and two have been arrested.

Searches carried out as a result of the investigation have also uncovered cannabis plants in a 'grow house' which are connected to one of the suspects. 

The woman is in her late 20s and allegedly met one of the men in a fast food restaurant after losing her friends on a night out. 

She went with the man back to a rented apartment where she alleges she was gang raped for hours.

The body of a Fermanagh man who went missing after a boat capsized on Lough Erne on Friday evening has been found.

By Jamie McDowell

The body of a Fermanagh man has been found after a boat capsized on Lough Erne on Friday evening.

20-year-old Lee Rodgers was with friends when their boat got into trouble yesterday.

Six people were on board the vessel when it sank, with five making it to shore safely, when the incident happened near Portora Boat Club on Lough Erne. 

It is believed Mr Rodgers was not wearing a life jacket at the time. 

Two RNLI lifeboats lead the search effort with a police helicopter and a Sligo Coastguard helicopter aiding their efforts. 

Emergency services were contacted just after 6pm by a member of the public who saw the vessel in jeapordy. 

Search efforts were diminished on Friday night due to fading light but resumed on Saturday, when the body of Mr Rodgers was recovered.  

Distraught family and friends of the young man have stayed at the shore of the lough during the search. 

John McBlain

Controversial comedian John McBlain has defended pictures alleged to be ‘racist’ he posted online about Alliance Party MLA Anna Lo.

The Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams impersonator went on the attack after we asked him if he thought the pictures were acceptable.

He snapped: “Oh right are there no stories about today?”

But Anna Lo told the Sunday World she was “appalled” and described the pictures, which she hadn’t been aware of, as “blatantly racist”.

The offensive images have been taken from the European Election hopeful’s campaign poster which was produced in the form of a cartoon.

In one of them the popular MLA for south Belfast has had a Hitler moustache superimposed and underneath it states: “Vote Ho Hitler”.

The comedian even mocks the 63-year-old politician’s Asian accent by posting: “Arriance Pawty” underneath the picture.

The second picture is the same election poster doctored once again and underneath it states: “Boat for Anna Ho”.

And once again McBlain posts a questionable comment underneath mocking Lo’s accent: “I wan a wunited irwand”.

Anna Lo has been the subject of sustained sectarian abuse which only got worse when she gave a newspaper interview two months ago stating that she would be in favour of a United Ireland.

She has also come under attack from loyalists because of the Alliance’s stance over the Union flag issue at Belfast City Hall.

And in February she came under attack from vile racists after she suggested flags and murals should be removed along the route of the Giro d’Italia which was in Belfast last week.

Last night John McBlain was unrepentant about the doctored election photos which he refused to accept have racist connotations.

When asked if he thought putting a Hitler moustache on her was acceptable he said: “Oh right are there no news stories about today?

 

“Why is everybody so politically correct these days? You would have been laughing at this 30 or 40 years ago but now everyone is so politically correct.

 

“This is comedy, it’s not racist. If we want to live in a country with absolutely no humour then God help us.

 

“You can write what you like, I don’t care. The picture was sent to me privately and I decided to post it on my Facebook page.”

One of the images McBlain posted online

Last week McBlain was quick to lambast the teenage Portadown footballer who posted sectarian remarks after child cancer victim Oscar Knox passed away.

McBlain posted a news story about the and commented: “disgusting I hope he’s banned from ever playing football again.”

When we mentioned this to McBlain he snapped back: “That was disgraceful, it’s completely different to this.”

But while he may not think the pictures are racist, they certainly caused offence to the south Belfast MLA.

Anna Lo told the Sunday World: “I am completely appalled at this blatant racist and offensive picture. This is not the first time I have been the victim of discrimination, but as before this will not deter me from delivering the Alliance message of inclusivity. 

“Whilst disappointing, the actions of these individuals by no way represent the majority in Northern Ireland and I will continue to promote a shared and diverse 

society for everyone.”

The pictures, which McBlain only shared with his Facebook friends, attracted even worse racist comments from some members of the public.

One man posted: “Doo you fwant dwavy or cwurry we you chips”, while another ‘joked’, “A one way ticket to Hong Kong for the BITCH!!!!”

Another comedian, who didn’t want to be named told us: “John has crossed the line with this stuff .

“There’s nothing wrong with giving a politician a bit of a kicking but mocking accent of an ethnic minority and likening her to Hitler is too much.”

Last year McBlain denied making sectarian comments about Celtic manager Neil Lennon and Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly.

A video on the satirical Loyalists Against Democracy Facebook page claimed to show a stand-up routine by McBlain.

During the alleged act posted on Facebook, a man doing an impression of Ian Paisley joked that the driver of the PSNI Land Rover Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly jumped on was sacked for “not running the b****** over”.

The stand up on the Facebook video also said that Celtic boss Lennon had appealed for people to stop sending him bullets in the post saying: “Just put them in his f****** head, never mind the post.”

McBlain strenuously denied being involved in the video – claiming it had been doctored to create mischief.

Steven.moore@sundayworld.com

Claire Twomey

The partner of former Provo Anthony McIntyre has appealed to the US government to grant him political asylum.

Carrie Twomey, who is married to the controversial Boston Tapes founder, claims McIntyre’s life is in immediate danger due to the PSNI’s decision to use his recordings as part of police investigations.

Twomey, who is an American citizen, is believed to have approached the US administration just last week to plead McIntyre’s case stating that granting him refuge would ultimately save his life.

McIntyre, a former IRA prisoner, claims he has received repeated death threats since his involvement in the Boston Tapes was exposed.

“Carrie approached the administration herself, on behalf of her husband and as an American citizen to plead his case,” a source said.

“She believes moving to America would be a chance for them to start over and could ultimately save her husband’s life.”

“She fears for his safety but she also fears for his mental and physical health. McIntyre is under huge pressure and she wants him out of it. She wants to move back to the States and forget about the whole nightmare.” 

The tapes, which include the recordings of former senior IRA members Brendan ‘The Dark’ Hughes and Dolours Price, have been used by the PSNI in the investigation into the murder of Jean McConville 42 years ago.

This has resulted in the arrests of former IRA members and the most recent detention of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, which caused worldwide outcry.

The quality of the tapes contents have been questioned as some who gave recordings are known to harbour grievances against their former IRA colleagues, Sinn Fein and Gerry Adams.

McIntyre was paid £26,000 a year as a researcher by Boston College, his wife Carrie Twomey was also paid as an assistant researcher.

McIntyre made the recordings alongside journalist Ed Maloney who went on to write the book, Voices From the Grave, after Brendan Hughes died, something McIntyre insists should never happened as it only alerted police to the existence of the tapes.

He has also claimed that he was ‘shafted’ by Boston College as they went back on their word that the tapes would only be released after the participant's deaths and would not be used in any police or government investigations.

Last week the Sunday World revealed how former IRA chief Ivor Bell had been asked to inform the former comrades he figured on the tapes.

It is claimed he named over a dozen former members of the IRA leaving many fearful of arrest.

The Sunday World also revealed that in addition to Bell former escapee Tommy Gorman, blanketman Richard O'Rawe, and former IRA man Brendan ‘Shando’ Shannon has also made tapes naming dozens of people involved in IRA activity 40 years ago.

Last week Richard O’Rawe admitted taking part in the project and outlined his intentions to sue Boston College for breach of contract.

The 20-year-old who drowned in Lough Erne on Friday was due to appear in court on Monday, it has emerged.

Lee Rogers, from Enniskillen, died tragically after his boat got into trouble at the Portora Boat Club.

But it emerged last night the tragic victim had been due before the Magistrates Court to face a charge of criminal damage to a tag he had been wearing.

According to court papers he had been accused of damaging an electronic monitoring tag which belonged to G4S Security sometime between the 21-28 of April.

While five of his friends managed to make it back to shore after their boat capsized on Friday afternoon but Mr Rogers drowned.

A massive search started on Friday night but was postponed when it got dark. The young man was not found until yesterday morning when the search resumed.

It is believed Mr Rogers was not wearing a life jacket at the time. 

Two RNLI lifeboats lead the search effort with a police helicopter and a Sligo Coastguard helicopter aiding their efforts. 

Emergency services were contacted just after 6pm by a member of the public who saw the vessel in jeopardy. 

Search efforts were diminished on Friday night due to fading light but resumed on Saturday, when the body of Mr Rodgers was recovered. 

Distraught family and friends of the young man stayed at the shore of the lough during the search. 

A statement from the PSNI said: “Police can confirm that a body has been recovered from Lough Erne following the capsizing of a boat yesterday, Friday, 16 May.

“We can confirm the name of the deceased as 20-year-old Lee Rogers from the Enniskillen area.”

A car damaged by the mob

Police were tipped off about a planned UDA invasion of Larne, but failed to act.

An estimated 100-strong mob rampaged their way through the coastal town attacking two houses before making their way back to Carrick.

At the time of the incident at the end of March, questions were raised as to how such a large mob, many of them masked and carrying baseball bats and other weapons, were allowed to make their way to and from Larne unchecked.

Now the Sunday World can reveal police were warned in advance of the invasion. 

We can also reveal the incident was planned and ordered by Carrick UDA commander Clifford Irons and was set up as a warning to drug dealers that the terror group will not tolerate them dealing on their patch.

Clifford Irons 

 But even UDA insiders are mystified how they got away with it.

“There was 100 of us on the road, in a convoy of cars, yet we were able to drive to Larne, wreck two houses and go home again,” said our source.

 

He said at no stage were they seriously impeded by police, claiming they had time to walk to each house in turn before walking back to their cars. There was a brief clash with police in which a number of officers suffered minor injuries.

 

“Even we are scratching our heads, it doesn’t make sense.”

Loyalist sources say they believe a number of senior figures in the UDA in Carrick are police informers and that providing there was no excessive violence police were happy to turn a blind eye.

The UDA control the drugs racket in east Antrim and Irons was determined to hand out a warning that rogue dealers will not be tolerated.

Police accused the organisation of being on a “power trip” in the wake of the sunday night invasion and Chief Constable Matt Baggott came under pressure to review the status of the UDA ceasefire.

Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton said Irons UDA mob were power mad.

“This faction of the UDA seem to want to have some power or legitimacy within communities and it’s very important that the community themselves don’t do anything to give legitimacy to these groups. There are ways of dealing with tensions and with difficulties within communities.”

He drew a link between the recent arrest of alleged UDA figures in the south-east Antrim area and the mass incursion into Larne.

“We actually arrested six people who would be connected to this grouping. They have been charged with things such as threats to kill and intimidation, criminal damage and so on.”

Hamilton also defended his officers against charges that they had reacted too slowly to reports of a mass gathering of UDA members in nearby Carrickfergus, also on the east Antrim coast, about an hour before they moved on into Larne.

“In a town the size of Larne, I think the number of police officers that we had available to deploy very quickly to that incident was proportionate,” he said.

“If you were the victim of that, you probably wouldn’t see it that way, but of course resources are not endless.”

Twenty-five riot squad officers were deployed to quell the violence and extra police resources have been put into the town to cope with any further trouble.

The Sunday World has spoken to a UDA insider in Carrick who claimed the police were warned in the days leading up to the attack.

“They were told where they would be who would be there and nothing happened. The whole town is convinced they were protecting their touts.”

Sinn Fein MLA Oliver McMullan also claimed he had warned such an attack was imminent.

 “I acknowledge the courage and the efforts of the police officers injured in an effort to prevent an attack on one of the homes.

“However, it’s worrying that police were unable to apprehend any of the 70 to 100-strong mob involved in the attacks.”

The disorder in Larne is being linked to a local turf war between different factions of the organisation, and it is known there is growing opposition to Larne UDA chief Colin ‘Hexter’ Baxter who is known to have fallen foul of South East Antrim brigadier Gary Fisher.

Cheryl Johnston

This is the Democratic Unionist election candidate who puts the capital ‘P’ into Party!

Cheryl Johnston is the changing face of the DUP who seem keen to ditch their ultra conservative Christian image.

But these are the pics the Carrickfergus Council hopeful never wanted the voters to see – pics of her having a bloody good time! It’s a warning to other young people to remove their Facebook fun pics before prospective employers see them.

The blonde 22-year-old is one of the youngest candidates taking part in this year’s election. Swigging on a bottle of cider, Cheryl, who's standing in the Carrick Castle ward, shows she knows how to organise a good party.

Long gone are the days of the DUP tying up the swings on a Sunday – now they are the biggest swingers in town. In fact judging by these pics you may be just as likely to see your local DUP representative chugging on a bottle of Buckfast.

Pretty mum Johnston removed her public Facebook page as soon as it was announced that she’d be standing for the DUP in the upcoming local government elections.

Needless to say she didn’t post these pics on her new DUP Facebook page! Instead Cheryl is shown in rather more demur fashion posing with senior DUP big wigs like MP Nigel Dodds and his MEP wife Diane.

And just a fortnight ago Cheryl posed alongside senior DUP figures including Finance Minister Simon Hamilton when she attended a ‘business breakfast’ in her home town Carrickfergus.

The Facebook snaps were passed to the Sunday World this week and show how far the DUP have changed in the last 20 years.

Quite what the reference to Buckfast is all about – only Cheryl will know.

A DUP source told the Sunday World: “When Cheryl was announced as a candidate she would have been told to get rid of pictures like this from her Facebook page.

 

“The party wants to appeal to younger voters but I don’t think they want to see their election candidates cavorting about like this.

 

“There will be elements within the party who would be horrified at these pictures. But the DUP has come a long way and wants to represent all strands of society.

 

“Her running mate is Fred Cobain who I don’t think will appreciate this kind of coverage four days before polling day.”

Cheryl Johnston graduated at the University of Ulster after studying at Carrickfergus Grammar School and her friends say she was always up for a good party.

“Cheryl loved a good night out when she was a student and it was a bit of a surprise when we heard she was actually going to stand for the party in an election,” said one.

“But good luck to her. She’s great fun and she would make an excellent councillor because she’s more in touch with what’s really happening on the streets than most politicians.”

Cheryl is a massive Rangers fan and supports her local flute band.

The Sunday World contacted the DUP but no one was available for comment. Standing alongside her in Carrickfergus is Bobby Rice who was exposed in this paper for making shocking comments about Gerry Kelly, Muslims and Barack Obama.

The 63-year-old is a DUP Community Outreach Worker and has worked closely with north Belfast MP Nigel Dodds and MLA William Humphrey. But he landed himself in hot water when he started tweeting about an appearance on the Nolan Show of Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly.

When someone else tweeted that Gerry Kelly should be shot dead Rice responded: “Carefull (sic) mate fb (Facebook) may bar u but fair one.”

It later emerged Rice had made other offensive comments online.

These include racist comments about US President Barack Obama where he described him as “some coloured guy” and a homophobic outburst where he called UTV presenter Julian Simmons as a “limp-wristed annoying prick”.

And after the murder of drummer Lee Rigby in London last year he tweeted: “Find the mosque where they prayed and do every f***er in it”.

Prisoners set to go back to Crumlin Road Gaol

Crumlin Road Gaol is to house prisoners once again.

 But this time they won’t be locked up in cells.

 For part of the renovated Victorian Building, which closed as a jail in 1996, will operate as a ‘working out’ unit for Maghaberry inmates who are coming to the end of long sentences.

One wing of the building, which is still owned by the Northern Ireland Prison Service, will be used to house the prisoners before their release.

 The wing consists of homes which were used by prison officers who worked in jail back when it was operational and will serve as a satellite to Maghaberry. 

 Called Burren House, it will be able to hold 22 prisoners at any one time, with the programme primarily focussing on helping long-term prisoners integrate back into normal life.

 A spokesperson from the Prison Service said the prisoners will be risk assessed and will subject to numerous checks, including substance misuse.

 The programme consists of three phases, which will enable the prisoners to work outside the confines of the jail, but returning at night.

"Burren House is a safe, low security pre-release facility where low-risk assessed prisoners can be adequately tested before they are released into the community," said Northern Ireland Prison Service director general Sue McAllister.

"These arrangements have operated successfully for prisoners in Northern Ireland for a number of years and the dedicated facility improves our capacity to assess and manage risk as prisoners return to the community."  

Raymond McCord with a photo of his murdered son, Raymond McCord Jr.

Victims campaigner Raymond McCord says he has been inundated with requests for help from republican families who are living under death threats.

And Mr McCord says that while most paramilitary groups will engage in a mediation process he says Óglaigh na hÉireann (ONH) steadfastly refuse.

“ONH have been issuing a lot of death threats in north Belfast recently,” says McCord.

“I’m getting calls almost every night from mums from areas like Ardoyne begging me for help because their wee lad or husband has been told he’s going to get shot.

“I went into their office on the Falls Road because a woman contacted me because her husband had been told he was going to be shot.

“And all because he stole a TV from someone’s house. It’s crazy!

“I’m dealing with another republican group, who I don’t want to name, who I have been able to negotiate with.

“I’m trying to get across to them that shooting these wee lads won’t solve the problem. And every time I’ve sat down with them we have been able to reach an agreement.

“If there are drug problems we try to organise drug counselling courses. “

On Friday a man was shot in the leg in Ardoyne. The 24-year-old was attacked by masked men in the Jamaica Court area.

And Mr McCord also slammed local politicians for abandoning victims of the Troubles in the run up to Thursday’s election.

“It’s one week before the election and nobody is standing up for the victims of loyalist violence,” he said.

“All the main parties have fallen well short. The DUP have done nothing for people like me or the family of Bobby Moffett – although they were quick to complain about masked men at the funeral of republican Tommy Crossan.

“It shows how little respect they have for the victims of UVF and UDA violence. 

“There has been no justice for the victims of loyalist murder gangs - particularly those who operated after the ceasefire and continued killing Protestants.”

Two males have been taken to hospital after being stabbed at Belfast Metropolitan College Millfield campus.

It is unclear at this stage the extent of their injuries but one man is said to be in a serious condition. 

Paramedics were called when knives were produced during a fight.

One man has been detained by police. 

The Sunday World understands one of the victims is a special needs student. 

One student at the scene said: "Both the guys [victims] had special needs.

"The guy who came out on the stretcher was very bloody, so I'd assume it was a knife.

 

"We are not sure what course they were on, but it was the first floor in building two in the bathroom.

"There were two ambulances and a lot of police, armed response unit and stuff like that there.

"The police were searching all the corridors for the weapon."

Marie-Therese McGivern, principal at BMC, said: "This was clearly shocking and deeply upsetting for everyone involved. Our absolute priority is to provide our students, staff and the families concerned with the  support they need as they seek to recover from what has been a traumatic ordeal.

"Counsellors were on site within 20 mins of the incident and will remain available for as long as our students and staff need them: the College will also continue to liaise closely with the families involved.

"I would like to commend staff for their immediate and instinctive actions in dealing with the incident."

Frederick Boyd wants bail to appear on the Jeremy Kyle show

Our exclusive video shows the 22-year old Newtownards man, who has asked a judge if he can be granted bail in order to appear on the Jeremy Kyle Show, mounting a pillar outside City Hall and shouting "no surrender."

Frederick Boyd told the High Court on Wednesday that he wants to go on to the show so that he can take a lie-detector test.

He wishes to take the test so he can apparently clear his name over separate allegations.

The man is currently facing charges of disorderly behaviour and a provocative act after he allegedly climbed a pillar outside Belfast City Hall back in January while draped in a Union Flag, and shouted profanities at passers by.

Mr Boyd's barrister said: "He tells me one of the reasons he's desperate to be released on bail is that he's determined to try and take a lie detector test.

"He thinks the best way to do that is on the Jeremy Kyle TV show."

 Mr Justice Weir granted bail to the accused after his grandmother, Kathryn Boyd, took to the witness box and told the court that her grandson's anger stems from a loyalist campaign against them.

She said: "On Remembrance Sunday a group of paramilitaries beat me and my grandson had to watch that, and they wrecked my kitchen."

"This is why he feels so bitter about things."

She also confirmed to Justice Weir that she would move in with her grandson in Larne.

 Justice Weir then addressed Frederick Boyd, saying: "You're only 22 years of age and you look about 45.

"You can't go on like this. You have to get your life sorted out."

 Video Copyright Sunday World

Basil McCrea

NI21 leader and Lagan Valley MLA Basil McCrea has denied allegations of sexual assault.

On Friday morning the MLA told the BBC:  "There obviously are social media rumours and such like, there is a specific allegation coming forward now, and now there is such a thing, then I can go and respond to it.

"In these issues it's important you respond in the appropriate way and I will be looking to see how we can do that."

The allegations have plunged the party into further despair this week after a bust up between Mr McCrea and deputy leader John McCallister over the redesignation of NI21 from 'unionist' to 'other'.

Mr McCallister, MLA for South Down, said the change was an attempt to force him out of the party after he raised concerns about the conduct of Mr McCrea.

In the last few days Tina McKenzie, the party's European candidate, resigned from NI21's executive.

She later tweeted: "So sad that freshpolitics has been let down by old politicians. I have resigned from the Executive but still fully support NI21.

"If elected I will stand but will not work for people who play dirty tricks and dirty politics."

Latest results

 Antrim and Newtownabbey

 Airport

 LOGUE, Anne-Marie   SF
 BURNS, Thomas   SDLP
 MAGILL, Matthew   DUP
 MICHAEL, Paul   UUP
 REA, Mervyn   UUP
 
 Antrim
 
 COCHRANE- WATSON, Adrian  UUP
 KELLS, Nigel  DUP
 SMYTH, John  DUP
 KELLY, Neil  All
 LYNCH, Roisin  SDLP
 RITCHIE, Drew  UUP

 Ballyclare

 GIRVAN, Mandy  DUP
 BINGHAM, Jim  UUP
 MCWILLIAM, Vera  UUP
 ARTHURS, David  TUV
 GIRVAN, Tim  DUP

 Dunsilly

 SWANN, Roderick  UUP
 CLARKE, Linda  DUP
 BEATTY, Trevor  DUP

 CUSHINAN, Henry John

 DUFFIN, Brian  SDLP

 Glengormley 

 COSGROVE, Mark  UUP
 BALL, Audrey  DUP
 GOODMAN, Michael  SF
 BLAIR, John  All
 BRETT, Phillip  DUP
 MCCLELLAND, Noreen  SDLP
 MAGUIRE, Michael  UUP
 
 Macedon

 DE COURCY, Billy  DUP
 WEBB, Billy  All
 HOLLIS, David  TUV
 HOGG, Thomas William  DUP
 HAMILL, Paul  DUP
 SCOTT, John  UUP

 Three Mile Water
 
 AGNEW, Fraser  UUP
 CAMPBELL, Tom  All
 BALL, William  DUP
 KELSO, Ben  UUP
 ROSS, Stephen  DUP
 BARR, Pamela  DUP

Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon

Armagh

KEATING, Garath  SF
O'HANLON, Thomas  SDLP
MCNALLY, Darren  SF
CAMPBELL, Mealla Ellen  SDLP
NICHOLSON, Sam UUP
DONNELLY, Freda  DUP

Banbridge

BARR, Glenn  UUP
BURNS, Ian  UUP
INGRAM, Elizabeth  UUP
McCRUM, Junior  DUP
DOYLE, Seamus  SDLP
GREENFIELD, Paul  DUP
CURRAN, Brendan Patrick  SF

Craigavon

TWYBLE, James Kenneth  UUP
SMITH, Robert Woolsey  DUP
LENNON, Fergal Thomas  SF
TINSLEY, Margaret  DUP 
McALINDEN, Declan  SDLP

Cusher

SPEERS, Jim  UUP
BERRY, Paul  Ind
KENNEDY, Gordon  UUP
WILSON, Gareth  DUP 

HAUGHEY, Sharon SDLP

Lagan River

BAXTER, Mark Thomas Richard  DUP
RANKIN, Paul David  DUP
WOODS, Marc  UUP
BLACK, Carol  UUP
GAMBLE, Hazel  DUP

Lurgan

LOCKHART, Carla  DUP
NELSON, Joe  SDLP
CAIRNS, Maire  SF
HAUGHIAN, Keith William  SF
McCUSKER, Colin  UUP
SEELEY, Catherine  SF
MOUTRAY, Philip  DUP
 

Portadown

BUCKLEY, Jonathan DUP
BEATTIE, Doug  UUP
HATCH, Arnold  UUP
CAUSBY, Darryn DUP
McKENNA, Gemma  SF
JONES, Robert  UKIP

 Belfast

 Balmoral

 Ó MUILLEOIR, Máirtín   SF
 HANNA, Claire    SDLP
 STALFORD, Christopher David Matthew  DUP
 DUDGEON, Jeffrey   UUP
 BRADSHAW, Paula Jane    

 Black Mountain
 
 CORR, Steven    SF
 AUSTIN, Janice    SF
 CARROLL, Gerry    PBP
 GROVES, Emma    SF
 CARSON, Arder  SF
 BEATTIE, Ciarán    SF
 ATTWOOD, Tim    SDLP

 Botanic
 
 HARGEY, Deirdre    SF
 PATTERSON, Ruth    DUP
 BOYLE, Declan    SDLP
 McDONOUGH-BROWN, Emmet    All
 CRAIG, Graham    UUP

 Castle
 
 CAMPBELL, Mary Ellen    SF
 SPENCE, Guy James    DUP
 PATTERSON, Lydia    DUP
 CONVERY, Patrick    SDLP
 BROWNE, David   UUP
 McALLISTER, Nuala   All

 Collin
 
 BELL, David    SF
 MAGENNIS, Stephen    SF
 O'HARA, Charlene    SF
 GARRETT, Matt    SF
 GROVES, Bill    SF
 HEADING, Brian    SDLP

 Court
 
 HUTCHINSON, Billy    PUP
 McCOUBREY, Frank    DUP
 McCONVILLE, Mary    SF
 McVEIGH, Jim    SF
 KINGSTON, Brian    DUP
 BUNTING, Jolene    TUV

 Lisnasharragh
 
 LONG, Michael    All
 GRAHAM, Aileen    DUP
 McGIMPSEY, Chris    UUP
 SANDFORD, Tommy    DUP
 MULLAN, Kate    SDLP
 HOWARD, Carole    All

 Oldpark
 
 CLARKE, Mary  SF
 MAGEE, JJ  SF
 McCABE, Gerry  SF
 McKEE, Gareth Ian  DUP
 MALLON, Nichola  SDLP
 CORR, Julie-Anne  PUP

 Ormiston

 RODGERS, Jim  UUP
 JONES, Mervyn  All
 HAIRE, Tom  DUP
 McNAMEE, Laura  All
 BROWN, Ross  GreenP
 HUSSEY, John Colin  DUP
 JOHNSTON, Peter  UUP

 Titanic
 
 COPELAND, Sonia  UUP
 Ó DONNGHAILE, Niall  SF
 KYLE, John  PUP
 ROBINSON, Gavin  DUP
 NEWTON, Adam  DUP
 ARMITAGE, David  All

 Causeway Coast and Glens 

 Ballymoney
 
 FINLAY, John  DUP
 McGUIGAN, Philip  SF
 BLAIR, William  TUV
 WILSON, Darryl  UUP
 McKEOWN, Tom  UUPStatus 62
 STEVENSON, Ian Richard  DUP
 McLEAN, Alan  DUP

 Bann
 
 KING, William  UUP
 KNIGHT-McQUILLAN, Michelle  DUP
 COLE, Sam  DUP
 HOLMES, Richard John  UUP
 LOFTUS, Roisin  SDLP

 Benbradagh

 McGLINCHEY, Sean  SF
 DOUGLAS, Boyd  TUV
 NICHOLL, Dermot  SF
 BEATTIE, Orla  SDLP
 McCAUL, Tony  SF
 
 Causeway

 CAMPBELL, Frank Ambrose  DUP
 HUNTER, Sandra  UUP
 FITZPATRICK, Barney  All
 HICKEY, Maura  SDLP
 HILLIS, Norman  UUP
 FIELDING, Mark  DUP
 McKILLOP, Sharon  TUV
 
 Coleraine
 
 WATTON, Russell  PUP
 QUIGLEY, Stephanie  SDLP
 DUDDY, George  DUP
 McCANDLESS, William  UUP
 CLARKE, Trevor  DUP
 HARDING, David  UUP

 Limavady

 ROBINSON, Alan  DUP
 CHIVERS, Brenda  SF
 MULLAN, Gerry  SDLP
 McCORKELL, James Alexander  DUP
 CALLAN, Aaron  UUP
 
 The Glens

 McSHANE, Cara  SF
 McSHANE, Padraig Pearse  Ind
 MULHOLLAND, Kieran James  SF
 BAIRD, Joan  UUP
 McKILLOP, Margaret Anne  SDLP

 Derry and Strabane 

 Ballyarnett
 
 DUFFY, Sandra  SF
 DOBBINS, Angela  SDLP
 HASSAN, Tony  SF
 QUIGLEY, Dermot Dee  Ind
 MCCALLION, Elisha  SF
 TIERNEY, Brian  SDLP

 Derg
 
 HUSSEY, Derek R  UUP
 MCHUGH, Ruairí  SF

 MCGUIRE, Kieran  SF

 MCHUGH, Maolíosa  SF
 KERRIGAN, Thomas  DUP

 Faughan

 MIDDLETON, Gary  DUP
 DEVENNEY, Maurice  DUP
 FLEMING, Paul  SF
 MCKEEVER, Jim  SDLP
 HASTINGS, Gus  SDLP

 Foyleside

 BOYLE, John  SDLP
 O'REILLY, Darren Pio  Ind
 COOPER, Mickey  SF
 MCGINLEY, Eric  SF
 CUSACK, Shauna  SDLP

 Sperrin

 BRESLAND, Allan  DUP
 CARLIN, Karina  SF
 KELLY, Dan  SF
 GALLAGHER, Paul (GAGS)  Ind
 MCMAHON, Brian  SF
 HAMILTON, Rhonda  DUP
 KELLY, Patsy  SDLP

 The Moor

 DONNELLY, Gary John  Ind
 CAMPBELL, Kevin  SF
 LOGUE, Patricia  SF
 CARR, Sean  SDLP
 KELLY, Colly  SF

 Waterside

 DIVER, Gerard Martin  SDLP
 JACKSON, Christopher  SF
 HAMILTON, Mary  UUP
 REILLY, Martin  SDLP
 MCCLINTOCK, Hilary  DUP
 THOMPSON, Drew  DUP
 RAMSEY, David  DUP

 Fermanagh and Omagh
 
 Enniskillen
 
 MAGUIRE, Tommy  SF
 ELLIOTT, Keith Alan  DUP
 IRVINE, Robert  UUP
 COYLE, Debbie  SF
 ROGERS, Patricia  SDLP
 THORNTON, Howard  UUP

 Erne East
 
 WARRINGTON, Victor  UUP
 ROBINSON, Paul  DUP
 O'REILLY, Thomas  SF
 McCAFFREY, Brian  SF
 McPHILLIPS, Richie  SDLP
 GREENE, Sheamus  SF
 
 Erne North
 
 BARTON, Rosemary  UUP
 FARRELL, Raymond  UUP
 FEELY, John  SF
 COYLE, John James  SDLP
 MAHON, David Robert  DUP
 
 Erne West

 BAIRD, Alex  UUP
 SWIFT, Bernice  Ind
 DOHERTY, Barry Vincent  SF
 GALLAGHER, Brendan Thomas  SDLP
 FEELY, Anthony  SF
 
 Mid Tyrone

 WILSON, Bert  UUP
 CLARKE, Sean  SF
 FITZGERALD, Anne Marie  SF
 DONNELLY, Sean  SF
 McNALLY, Barry Kevin  SF
 SHIELDS, Rosemarie  SDLP
 
 Omagh

 DEEHAN, Josephine Anne  SDLP
 McANESPY, Sorcha  SF
 McCOLGAN, Marty  SF
 SMYTH, Chris  UUP
 THOMPSON, Errol Ivan  DUP
 DONNELLY, Joanne  SDLP

 West Tyrone
 
 CAMPBELL, Glenn Gerard  SF
 RAINEY, Allan  UUP
 DONNELLY, Frankie Jerome  SF
 BUCHANAN, Mark Thomas  DUP
 GARRITY, Mary Therese  SDLP
 McCANN, Stephen  SF

 Lisburn and Castlereagh 
 
 Castlereagh East
 
 Jeffers, Tommy  DUP
 Drysdale, David  DUP
 Skillen, Sharon  DUP
 Girvin, Andrew  TUV
 Legge, Hazel  UUP
 Morrow, Tim  All

 Castlereagh South
 
 Rice, Geraldine  All
 Gallen, John  SDLP
 Anderson, Nathan  DUP
 Henderson, Michael  UUP
 Hanvey, Brian  SDLP
 Kamble, Vasundhara  All
 Mallon, Ben  DUP

 Downshire East

 Poots, Luke  DUP
 Baird, James  UUP
 Mackin, Uel  DUP
 McIntyre, Aaron  All
 Gray, Janet  DUP
  
 Downshire West
 
 Dillon, Jim  UUP
 Ewart, Allan  DUP
 Palmer, John  DUP
 Redpath, Alexander  UUP
 Gawith, Owen  All
 
 Killultagh
 
 Beckett, Thomas  DUP
 Butler, Robbie  UUP
 Tinsley, James  DUP
 Leathem, William  DUP
 Catney, Patrick  SDLP
 
 Lisburn North
 
 Bloomfield, Brian  UUP
 Tolerton, Margaret  DUP
 Martin, Stephen  All
 Carson, Scott  DUP
 Palmer, Jenny  DUP
 McCarthy, Johnny  NI21
 
 Lisburn South
 
 Mitchell, Tim  UUP
 Givan, Alan  DUP
 Porter, Paul  DUP
 Ewing, Andrew  DUP
 Walker, Rhoda  DUP
 Grehan, Amanda  All

 Mid and East Antrim
 
 Ballymena
 
 HENRY, James  Ind
 ANDERSON, Donna  TUV
 O'LOAN, Declan  SDLP
 WALES, Audrey  DUP
 CARSON, John  DUP
 GLOVER, Reuben  DUP
 NICHOLL, Stephen  UUP
 
 Bannside
 
 GASTON, Timothy  TUV
 HARDY, Patrice  SF
 McDONALD, Stewart  TUV
 McNEILLY, William  UUP
 NICHOLL, Tommy  DUP
 HENRY, Billy  DUP
 
 Braid
 
 CHERRY, Robin  UUPS
 McCAUGHEY, William  DUP
 COLLINS, Brian  TUV
 ADGER, Beth  DUP
 CLYDE, Beth  DUP
 HANNA, Samuel  DUP
 MAGUIRE, Paul  SF

 Carrick Castle

 STEWART, John Robert  UUP
 BROWN, Charles James  Ind
 ASHE, Billy  DUP
 JORDAN, Noel  UKIP
 JOHNSTON, Cheryl Jacilyn  DUP
 
 Coast Road
 
 MORROW, Maureen  UUP
 McKEOWN, James  SF
 LYONS, Gordon  DUP
 MULVENNA, Gerardine
 WILSON, Ruth  TUV
 
 Knockagh

 WILSON, Andrew  UUPStatus 912
 BEATTIE, May  DUPStatus 854
 MILLAR, Lindsay  UUPStatus 581
 SINCLAIR, Paul  AllStatus 479
 McCLURG, Lynn  DUPStatus 360
 
 Larne Lough
 
 McKEEN, Gregg  DUP
 McKINTY, Mark Richard  UUP
 WILSON, Andrew Park  UUP
 LOGAN, Robert  All
 REID, Paul  DUP

 Mid Ulster

 Carntogher

 MCPEAKE, Sean  SF
 MCELDOWNEY, Kate  SF
 KEARNEY, Martin  SDLP
 MCGUIGAN, Brian  SF
 SHEILS, James  DUP

 Clogher Valley

 BURTON, Frances  DUP
 GILDERNEW, Phelim  SF
 MCGUIGAN, Sean  SF
 MCALEER, Sharon  SDLP
 MULLIGAN, Robert  UUP
 ROBINSON, Wills  DUP
 
 Cookstown
 
 MALLAGHAN, Cathal  SF
 WILSON, Trevor James  UUP
 MCNAMEE, John Fitzgerald  SF
 BELL, Gavin  SF
 GLASGOW, Mark  UUP
 QUINN, Tony  SDLP
 BUCHANAN, Wilbert  DUP

 Dungannon
 
 MONTEITH, Barry  Ind
 CUDDY, Walter  UUP
 MOLLOY, Dominic Joseph  SF
 ASHTON, Kim Elaine  DUP
 CUTHBERTSON, Clement Leslie Graham  DUP
 MULLEN, Denise Maria  SDLP
 
 Magherafelt
 
 MCLEAN, Paul  DUP
 CLARKE, Sean  SF
 TOTTEN, Darren Oliver  SF
 SHIELS, George Crawford  UUP
 MCFLYNN, Christine  SDLP
 
 Moyola

 O'NEILL, Caoimhe  SF
 FORDE, Anne  DUP
 ELATTAR, Catherine  SF
 MCKINNEY, Derek Irwin  UUP
 BATESON, Peter Joseph  SF
 
 Torrent
 
 DILLON, Linda  SFS
 O'NEILL Joe  SF
 REID, Kenneth David  UUP
 MCGINLEY, Ronan Paul  SF
 GILLESPIE, Mickey  SF
 QUINN, Malachy  SDLP

 Newry, Mourne and Down

 Crotlieve
 
 MCATEER, Declan  SDLP
 ENNIS, Sinead  SF
 RUANE, Mickey  SF
 FITZPATRICK, Gillian  SDLP
 CARR, Michael  SDLP
 TINNELLY, Jarlath John  Ind
 
 Downpatrick
 
 MCGRATH, Colin  SDLP
 CURRAN, Dermot  SDLP
 BAILIE, Naomi  SF
 SHARVIN, Gareth  SDLP
 ENRIGHT, Cadogan  Ind

 Newry

 CASEY, Charlie  SF
 KIMMINS, Liz  SF
 HARTE, Valerie  SF
 HYLAND, Davy  Ind
 STOKES, Gary  SDLP
 MCATEER, Kevin  SDLP
 
 Rowallane
 
 ANDREWS, Terry  SDLP
 BURGESS, Robert  UUP
 HARVEY, Harry  DUP
 WALKER, Billy  DUP
 BROWN, Patrick  All

 Slieve Croob
 
 BURNS, Stephen  SF
 CRAIG, Garth  DUP
 O GRIBIN, Pol  SF
 MURNIN, Mark  SDLP
 CLARKE, Patrick  All
 
 Slieve Gullion
 
 HEARTY, Terry  SF
 DONNELLY, Geraldine  SDLP
 LARKIN, Mickey  SF
 MULGREW, Roisin  SF
 TAYLOR, David  UUP
 O MUIRI, Barra  SF
 LOUGHRAN, Kate  SDLP

 The Mournes

 REILLY, Henry  UKIP
 DEVLIN, Laura  SDLP
 CLARKE, Willie  SF
 DORAN, Sean  SF
 MCKEE, Harold  UUP
 HANNA, Glyn  DUP
 QUINN , Brian  SDLP

 North Down and Ards

 Ards Peninsula
 
 ADAIR, Robert Hugh  DUP
 BOYLE, Joseph Timothy  SDLP
 CARSON, Angus Yeaman  UUP
 EDMUND, Nigel  DUP
 THOMPSON, Edward Burns  DUP
 ARMSTRONG, Kellie Mary  All

 Bangor Central

 IRVINE, Wesley Graham  DUP
 HENRY, Ian John Cyril  UUP
 CATHCART, Alistair John  DUP
 ROBINSON, Noelle Anne  GreenP
 ANDERSON, Stuart David  All
 MCCLEAN, Carl Christian  UUP
 
 Bangor East and Donaghadee

 CHAMBERS, Albert Alan  Ind
 BROOKS, Mark Ronald  UUP
 WALKER, Gavin  All
 MARTIN, Peter James  DUP
 KEERY, William David  DUP
 SMITH, Thomas John  DUP
 
 Bangor West

 SMITH, Marion  UUP
 GRAHAM, Robert Alan  DUP
 LESLIE, Alan  DUP
 WILSON, Scott Alfred  All
 ROBERTS, Paul Andrew  GreenP
 
 Comber

 GIBSON, Robert  DUP
 FLETCHER, James Edward Chandler  UUP
 GIRVAN, Deborah Mary Louise  All
 CUMMINGS, Trevor William  DUP
 COOPER, Stephen James  TUV

 Holywood and Clandeboye

 DUNNE, Stephen Gordon  DUP
 BARRY, John  GreenP
 MUIR, Andrew David  All
 ALLEN, Daniel  UUP
 GILMOUR, Jennifer Mary  DUP
 
 Newtownards

 MENAGH, James  Ind
 ARMSTRONG, Naomi Esther Hannah  DUP
 MCILVEEN, Stephen Harold  DUP
 SMART, Richard John  UUP
 FERGUSON, Katherine  UUP
 KENNEDY, Colin George Dallas  DUP
 MCDOWELL Alan Joseph  All
 

UDA boss was left bloodied and bruised after beating

UDA leaders have hauled the organisation back from the brink of all out war.

Loyalist guns will not be back on the streets in a loyalist feud, but those behind an attack on north Belfast brigadier John Bunting WILL be hunted down and punished.

As tensions continue to simmer in the Tigers Bay enclave, the Sunday World can reveal a series of crisis meetings brokered by terror boss Jackie McDonald has resulted in a ‘no guns’ edict in the hope of heading off a blood-soaked feud.

But the pack responsible for the daylight attack on Bunting face brutal sanction.

Sources within the UDA say they will be begging for a bullet when they fall into the hands of the paramilitaries hell bent on revenge for the bold assault on the North Belfast chief last Friday afternoon.

The renegade loyalists are to face a ‘romper room’ style attack where they will be beaten to a bloodied mess by several members of the illegal organisation, sometimes tortured over a period several days.

What has been decided by UDA chiefs is that the loyalist dissidents cannot be seen to escape unscathed for their blatant and public revolt against the leadership of the organisation.

“When they get them they will be begging to have a bullet in the back of the head. Let me tell you something that would be an easier option because what these boys have planned isn’t pretty. They will be begging for mercy. You can’t take on a brigadier of the UDA and get a slap round the head, this will be brutal, violence to the extreme.

“The UDA will make a show of all of them, it will be a brutal warning to all who are involved in making a move against the leadership. The message will be clean and the scars on their faces and bodies will be a public reminder to all,” said a senior loyalist source.

John Bunting was dragged from his car alongside Tommy Pearson in Mervue Street after being ambushed by a 15 to 20 man gang last week.

The premeditated attack, an object was thrown in front of Bunting’s car forcing him to stop, left the North Belfast boss bruised and shaken immediately sparking fears of an all out UDA feud.

Within minutes of the attack members of the UDA in North and South Belfast were mobilised with the order to hunt down the rebels.

Their immediate instruction was to kill those responsible however the Sunday World can reveal that while UDA members continue to track down the defectors murder is no longer on their minds. 

“The word has been issued that they are not to be killed but they will be brought to the relevant people and punished, severely. Their punishment will be made public and then they are gone, not killed but expelled from the country.

 

“The leadership wants it made clear to everyone that this will not be tolerated, and take it from me the only reason why they are not being shot dead is because of the repercussions,” he said

Sources confirmed the UDA’s U-turn was prompted by the Inner Councils belief, Jackie McDonald’s in particular, that any murder could lead to a cut in financial support from the government for their ‘community groups’.

It would also draw unnecessary police attention to their illegal activities which include extortion and drug dealing.

As revealed last week by the Sunday World the dissident faction of the UDA is being led by Bill Hill who also has the support of one-time North Belfast chief Andre Shoukri.

John Bunting immediately after being beaten in the street

In the immediate aftermath of the Bunting’s beating the men fled and barricaded themselves inside several homes in the Tigers Bay area.

Bunting, in-between mobilising his paramilitary troops, made an instantaneous report to the PSNI claiming his phone had been stolen during the assault.

The PSNI raided several houses reported to have been used by dissidents with several men receiving police notifications that their lives were in danger and “that the use  of firearms cannot be ruled out”.

The houses were raided with the motive to find Bunting’s phone however the Sunday World understands it has yet to be located.

Sources say Bunting immediately rang his phone company to have his phone blocked, fearful of the information and telephone contacts the mobile held.

Four men were questioned in relation to last Friday’s incident but were released on bail pending further investigations.

James 'Mr Bump' Reid

UVF thug Jamesy Reid has been nicknamed ‘Mr Bump’ after it emerged he has sued the Housing Executive after falling down the same flight of stairs on four separate occasions!

And incredibly the Housing Executive has forked out every time to the tune of £20,000 in total.

The shocking revelations about the ‘accident prone’ east Belfast paramilitary boss emerged after documents about the incidents were mistakenly sent to Maghaberry Prison. 

The Sunday World understands the Housing Executive paid out £4,000 to Reid just last week.

“Everyone’s calling him Mr Bump because it seems he’s fallen down the same flight of stairs in the same block of flats four times,” said a source.

 

“I remember he appeared in the Sunday World dressed as ‘Dangermouse’ – he’ll have to try and get himself a Mr Bump costume for next Hallowe’en.

 

“But laughing aside nobody can believe that he actually got paid out four times. He’s made a fortune out of taxpayers money.”

According to Housing Executive papers Reid has fallen down the same stairs in a block of flats in Morven Park, Ballybeen, four times.

On one occasion he twisted his ankle while on another he injured his arm.

Reid has a notorious reputation in east Belfast where he has brought misery to people living in Ballybeen.

He recently served two years of a four year jail sentence for armed robbery.

Housing chiefs sent the damning documents to the jail after mistakenly thinking Reid was still behind bars – even though he had been released last year.

Reid is the UVF boss from Ballybeen who once attacked Sunday World Editor Jim McDowell at Belfast City Hall.

Seemingly Reid is at war with the Housing Executive because they have refused to offer him a house.

The convicted thug and robber requested a house in Ballybeen but the Sunday World understands the Housing Executive was concerned it was being conned.

“The Housing Executive knows Jamesy has a girlfriend in Ballybeen and has been living there so it suspects he’s applying for a house so he can sub-let it out to someone else.

“The UVF has been making a fortune from getting Housing Executive houses and then renting them out to other people.

“They also use some addresses as ‘giro-drops’ to get fake benefit payments.”

The Housing Executive confirmed last night that Reid had recently won an out-of-court settlement with i6.

A spokesperson said: “Further to your query regarding Mr Reid I can confirm he has applied to the Housing Executive for accommodation and his housing need has been assessed. 

“Mr Reid has indicated a preference for a particular property type which is not currently available in his preferred area. As and when a suitable vacancy occurs Mr Reid’s application will be considered. 

“Further to your other query I can confirm a recent claim was settled in relation to an incident which occurred following vandalism in a stairwell. The Housing Executive regularly carries out inspections and the necessary work has been completed.”

The 33-year-old is the man who assaulted Jim McDowell after ambushing him at the Christmas market in 2009.

Reid gained himself a fearsome reputation around Ballybeen where several people were forced to leave their homes by his UVF mob.

In 2012 Reid pleaded guilty to one count of robbery on October 22, 2010 in the county court division of Ards.

His victim was Crossgar businessman, Mr Kenneth Martin. Three thousand pounds in cash was stolen.

He was arrested in Crossgar, Co. Down by detectives from the PSNI’s Organised Crime Branch, along with two other men who were also convicted alongside him.

Reid was also convicted of possessing an offensive weapon, namely a metal bar, in a public place contrary to the Public Order Act of 1987.

Another count of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence was left on the books.

New Chief Constable of the PSNI George Hamilton

The new Chief Constable of the PSNI will be George Hamilton.

The former RUC man saw off two candidates to secure the job.

An Garda Síochana assistant commissioner Derek Byrne and Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Cressida Dick were also in the running for the post. 

His career in the police began when he joined the RUC in 1985.

Matt Baggott announced in January that he would be retiring from the top role in the PSNI.

His contract will end in September. 

The device was thrown into the reception of a hotel in Derry

A bomb blast that extensively damaged a hotel in Derry was an attack on the whole city, the local MP has said.

The device was thrown into the reception of the Everglades Hotel in the Prehen area of Derry by a masked man on Thursday night.

It detonated a short time later as Army bomb disposal officers were urgently working to defuse it. No-one was injured in the explosion.

The finger of suspicion will be pointed at dissident republican extremists opposed to the peace process

Foyle MP Mark Durkan said those responsible were trying to drag the city backwards.

"People of Derry won't see this as an attack against a particular site but, in fact, an attack against the whole city," he said.

"So many people are working hard to move the city forward, but those behind this device are trying to drag us all back to worse times. Such methods demonstrate only a negative, violent capacity, not a viable strategy or credible rationale.

"The nature of the device, and the manner of this reckless attack, show that they are a threat to anyone and everyone. That is why we must be united and strong in rejecting their ways, and affirming peace and progress as our chosen determined collective right."

A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokeswoman praised "the swift actions of hotel staff and responding police officers in ensuring all guests were quickly evacuated".

"Their actions have undoubtedly helped to prevent a tragedy," she added.

Hotel guests have been transported to other hotels in the city. A road closure is in place around Victoria Road.

Clifford Irons

The UDA is today exposed as Ulster’s top drug dealing criminal gang.

A Sunday World special investigation has revealed the terror group controls drug running rackets from north and east Belfast to Carrick and Larne in east Antrim.

Cocaine is the currency and the drug business runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, raking in tens of thousands for the organisation while making UDA commanders very wealthy men.

Carrick is a town in the grip of the UDA – nothing moves in the coastal town without the involvement or approval of the leadership UDA in the rogue South East Antrim Brigade headed up by Gary Fisher. 

The criminal gang has such control on the flow of drugs that anyone selling narcotics in east Antrim is working for the UDA.

Every week local commander Clifford Irons ensures Fisher gets his cut. 

Bundles of cash are handed to the SEA chief in Rathcoole, and in return Fisher turns a blind eye as the local UDA make a fortune from the drugs trade.

It is a cosy relationship that has allowed Irons and his team of runners to make a killing.

The Sunday World has spoken to a number of well placed loyalist sources in the town who claim information about the UDA’s drug dealing has been passed to the PSNI, including details of known members addresses, car registrations and locations where they sell drugs.

Carrick UDA buy their drugs from criminal gangs in the north of England, notably Manchester and Liverpool, and the narcotics are then smuggled into Northern Ireland hidden in cars. The gear is brought in through either Larne from Scotland or on the Holyhead to Dublin ferry route before being driven north.

We understand they are able to buy cocaine for £300 an ounce, before cutting it and selling it on at rate of £700 an ounce. Sources have told us the the profit margins can be as high as 500 per cent depending on far they cut the drug.

“There is never any shortage of drugs in Carrick, there’s no such thing as a drought down here,” our source told us.

“They sell drugs round the clock, it doesn’t matter what day of the week it is, they are open for business.”

The favoured drug is cocaine. The organisation operates a ‘dial-a-drug’ operation where drugs are delivered to an agreed location. We are also aware of at least two licensed premises in the borough where drugs are openly bought and sold.

We are also aware of the identities of Irons’ trusted lieutenants. The drug delivery driver carries a legally held shotgun everywhere he goes, he is backed up by a man and two brothers who have a history of violent robberies.

Irons – also known as Trigger after the famously thick Only Fools and Horse character – stays at arms length from the drugs business, except when it comes to the money. 

He personally delivers Gary Fisher’s cut of the business, the rest is his to do what he likes. The criminal proceeds are laundered in a number of ways including buying and selling cars.

Sources have told us Irons is reluctant to be seen as a face of the UDA, insisting on maintaining a low profile. He controls the drug racket from behind the scenes. 

It is only in recent years that the organisation became so heavily involved in the highly lucrative drugs racket.

Originally it had been Andre Shoukri who had overseen the introduction of drugs into South East Antrim. Fisher saw the potential for making a fortune and when Shoukri was jailed Irons saw his opportunity. 

At the time he was second in command to then Carrick commander Thompson Gilmore – the only problem was he was vehemently anti-drugs.

But with huge cash dividend on offer it was only a matter of time before Gilmore was sidelined.

“Gilmore was old school,” said our source. “he was the sort of leader you could approach, if had a problem he would try and sort it for you. 

“He was totally anti-drugs, but the UDA/UFF was his life. When they took that away from him it sort of killed him.”

Gilmore was stood down for “family reasons” and while he remains within the Carrick UDA, he has been completely cold shouldered by his former sidekick Irons who likes to portray himself as a successful businessman. 

The father of one who is in his late 30s runs a taxi business, a car repair shop and breeds dogs. He also runs CC Cars, a second hand car business at Kilroot Business Park on the outskirts of the town.

In reality he heads up an organisation that is not only the main drugs supplier in Carrick but which also services neighbouring Larne and Ballyclare.

The fact he is allowed to operate with impunity has raised questions not only within the community but within his own organisation. 

Police have raided a number of homes in recent months, some of which belong to his trusted lieutenants. Items have been seized and on at least one occasion one member was caught flushing drugs down the toilet.

Irons’s home on the Castlemara estate was untouched and the alleged dealer caught disposing of drugs was back dealing within days.

Sources have told us they believe Irons is working with the police. Crime levels in Carrick are low because Irons and his mob run the town.

We revealed last month that police were tipped off about the planned UDA invasion of Larne. An estimated 100-strong mob rampaged their way through the town attacking two houses as a warning to drug dealers.

Questions were raised as to how such a large mob, many of them masked and carrying baseball bats and other weapons, and led by Irons, was allowed to make their way to and from Larne unchecked.

At the time of the incident Chief Constable designate George Hamilton said Irons’s UDA mob were power mad.

“This faction of the UDA seem to want to have some power or legitimacy within communities and it’s very important that the community themselves don’t do anything to give legitimacy to these groups.”

The then Assistant Chief Constable said a number of Irons’s unit had been arrested.

UVF terror boss Stephen Matthews

UVF terror boss Stephen ‘Mackers’ Matthews got a workout he hadn’t planned for when he felt the heavyweight of the law at the gym this week.

The notorious paramilitary boss, who runs the equally notorious east Belfast brigade of the terror group, was arrested at his local fitness club.

And we can reveal that as part of the police crackdown a number of houses were also raided – one of which is believed to be the base for his money- laundering operation.

Armed cops swooped on the gym, which is walking distance from Matthews’ home, and where he works out three or four times each week.

Sources told the Sunday World around six police jeeps arrived at the club on Tuesday morning and took Matthews away before he was released later that day “pending further enquiries”.

 

“Mackers was furious after the cops busted into his gym and arrested him,” said a source.

 

“He was really embarrassed. He was shouting at the cops about something. I think he was raging because they did it so publicly.”

The significant arrest is part of a supposed new PSNI approach against Matthews and his gang which has been blamed for inflicting misery on the people of east Belfast.

Aside from being blamed for major street disorder after the Union flag dispute and flooding east Belfast with drugs, Matthews and his gang are believed to 

have been behind several shootings including two murder attempts on his ex-mistress Jemma McGrath and his sworn enemy James ‘Hammy’ Hamilton.

Earlier this year we revealed that a new unit had been set up to target Matthews’ UVF gang in the aftermath of the murder bids.

The cop tasked with bringing Matthews down was brought in from Lisburn earlier this year but originally hailed from Dee Street which is smack in the middle of the terror boss’s turf.

Matthews was arrested in March and quizzed about the attacks on his former girlfriend Jemma McGrath and the botched murder bid of James Hamilton.

On Tuesday cops also seized a number of items and said they were being taken away for “further forensic examination”.

“The cops are intent on keeping their foot on the neck of Matthews,” said a police source.

“They want him to know they know 

where he is and what he’s up to. This arrest is very significant but the raid on his money laundering house is just as big.

“It’s shaken the gang to its core and Matthews must be fearing if the police are going to torture him so much he simply can’t operate his criminal empire anymore.

“There are crisis meetings being held all over the place as he tried to figure out what he’s going to.”

Other loyalist sources have blamed the police for not taking this action sooner.

“The police have sat back for too long and allowed him to become very powerful,” said one east Belfast source.

“But they let him get out of control and now even the UVF hierarchy on the Shankill can’t rein him in. Mackers has been getting away with murder for years - for goodness sake the Sunday World have been writing about him for almost ten years!”

Last night police told the Sunday World: “Detectives from PSNI’s Organised Crime Branch arrested a 52-year-old man in East Belfast on Tuesday 27th, May as part of an ongoing investigation into criminality in the area. He was later released on police bail pending further enquiries. 

“Another man, aged 44, was also arrested and subsequently released on police bail pending further enquiries.

“A number of properties were searched and several items were removed for further forensic examinations.”

It has been claimed the police may have scooped Matthews on Tuesday 

just to mark his card in the run up to the marching season which is looming ever closer.

“The cops are letting him know that they are all over him and if he or his gang try and orchestrate trouble they will be ready this time.”

Mackers’ crime empire started to crumble when one of his most senior lieutenants was jailed for drug dealing.

Thirty-five-year-old David McConnell was banged up for six months for supplying Class B drugs with intent.

Last September Matthews apparently personally ordered the shooting of Jemma McGrath after it emerged the paramilitary chief once had a fling with the attractive blonde while she was a 16-year-old schoolgirl.

The UVF bosses on the Shankill did not sanction the attack but Matthews made it clear to them he didn’t care what they thought of him.

Since then the UVF in east Belfast have been operating almost as a separate entity from the rest of the terror group.

The organisation’s political wing, the PUP, has come under pressure from the NIO to rein in the terror group.