North Belfast loyalist Mark Haddock this morning appeared in court charged with the murder of a man in 1997.
The UVF leader attended Belfast Magistrates Court on a charge of killing John Harbinson (39), who was beaten to death in the Mount Vernon estate.
The 40-year-old was arrested by detectives from the police’s Historical Enquiries Team (HET) on Tuesday inside Maghaberry prison, where he is serving a 10-year term for attacking a nightclub doorman.
The one time informer for the Royal Ulster Constabulary’s Special Branch is also charged with the attempted murder of a 37-year-old man and grievous bodily harm against a 37-year-old man.
A solicitor representing the loyalist said he denied the charges.
But Det Insp David Lowans told the court that he believed he could connect Haddock with the three charges.
The HET lead investigator in the case, Stephen Hobbs, later said his officers were committed to continuing their investigations into Mr Harbinson’s murder.
HET detectives are currently examining 10 murders linked to the UVF’s Mount Vernon gang by a Police Ombudsman’s report on alleged collusion between loyalists in north Belfast and security forces.
The HET has now arrested 16 men in connection with the killings. Eleven have been charged and four are subject to reports by prosecutors.
PA