THE RUC fears that loyalist paramilitaries are trying to apprehend the person or persons responsible for the death of Mr Bobby "Basher" Bates. The victim, one of the notorious Shankill Butchers, was killed in Belfast on Wednesday.

Initially it was feared republicans were responsible for the murder - which could have triggered a round to tit for tat republican and loyalist killings - but it emerged that the main suspects were loyalists whose relations or friends may have been killed bye Mr Bates. The chief suspect is understood to be widely known in the loyalist Shankill area of Belfast. It was reported last night that those suspected of involvement in the killing were on the run from loyalist paramilitaries.

Mr Bates had served 17 years in prison for his involvement with the Shankill Butchers during the 1970s. He was blamed for about a dozen killings. Many of his victims were Protestant, as well as Catholic.

While Mr Bates had become a born again Christian, loyalist relations or friends of his victims were said to be still harbouring grudges against him. The gunman who shot him on Wednesday as he opened up a drop in centre for released prisoners escaped into the Shankill area.

His suspected killers were reported to be trying to flee Northern Ireland last night.