The murder of an alleged drugs dealer was carried out by the Ulster Volunteer Force, it was claimed in the High Court in Belfast yesterday. William Henry Paul (49) was shot dead in July outside his home in the Kilcooley estate, Bangor, Co Down.
Mr John James McCormick (54), from Catalina Gardens, West Winds estate, Newtownards, applied for bail on a charge of withholding information about a car alleged to have been used in the murder of the former Shankill Road man.
A prosecution lawyer said: "This was a UVF murder of an alleged drugs dealer." He said Mr McCormick claimed the car had been scrapped and police believed he had lied to protect another man allegedly involved in the killing. "McCormick has no connection with the UVF and police are not strenuously opposing bail," the lawyer said.
Mr Justice Coghlin released McCormick on £1,750 bail.