LEADING members of the Progressive Unionist Party have attended the funeral of Mr Tommy Stewart, the UVF commander in north Belfast who was shot dead earlier this week "after being suspended from the paramilitary group.
Mr Stewart (32) was shot five times by a masked gunman as he walked in the Ballysillan Estate on Tuesday. A man with him escaped injury. The RUC is questioning a woman and several men about the killing.
The PUP leaders, Mr David Ervine and Mr Billy Hutchinson, attended the funeral yesterday. Several hundred people stood outside Mr Stewarts house on Ballysillan Avenue while a short religious service was held inside for his family.
The UVF has denied involvement in the killing. Loyalist sources have said that Mr Stewart was killed by "criminal elements" in a dispute over the proceeds of a post office robbery.
RUC detectives have also said they do not believe that the killing was the result of an internal feud.
Mr Stewart was strongly opposed to the peace process and was a supporter of the dissident Portadown loyalist, Mr Billy Wright.
Some observers remain unconvinced by assertions from UVF and police sources that the loyalist paramilitary group was not involved in the killing in some way.
Mr Wright placed a death notice for Mr Stewart in a local newspaper, describing him as a "brave and loyal Ulsterman". However, he did not attend the funeral. He is under a UVF death threat.
Journalists were warned to keep their distance from the cortege. There was not a heavy RUC presence at the funeral as the Stewart family had reassured police that there would be no paramilitary display.
Six youths wearing white shirts and black ties accompanied the cortege and a UVF flag was draped over the coffin.