This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7744571.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Senior loyalist Ihab Shoukri dies | Senior loyalist Ihab Shoukri dies |
(about 24 hours later) | |
Leading north Belfast loyalist Ihab Shoukri has died. | Leading north Belfast loyalist Ihab Shoukri has died. |
The 34-year-old died in Newtownabbey on Saturday night. Police are not treating it as suspicious - it is believed he died of a drug overdose. | The 34-year-old died in Newtownabbey on Saturday night. Police are not treating it as suspicious - it is believed he died of a drug overdose. |
Shoukri, 34, originally from the Westland estate, was jailed for 15 months in June after admitting being a member of the UDA and supporting it. | Shoukri, 34, originally from the Westland estate, was jailed for 15 months in June after admitting being a member of the UDA and supporting it. |
He was released in a matter of weeks because of the amount of time he had spent in prison while awaiting trial. | He was released in a matter of weeks because of the amount of time he had spent in prison while awaiting trial. |
He had been arrested along with a number of other men at a north Belfast bar where a UDA "show of strength" was being planned. | |
Ihab Shoukri and his brother Andre were expelled from the UDA two years ago after setting up a breakaway faction in south east Antrim. | Ihab Shoukri and his brother Andre were expelled from the UDA two years ago after setting up a breakaway faction in south east Antrim. |
The faction had been accused of involvement in widespread criminality, including drug dealing. | The faction had been accused of involvement in widespread criminality, including drug dealing. |
Ihab Shoukri took over leadership of the group in November last year after his brother was jailed for nine years on charges including blackmail and intimidation. | Ihab Shoukri took over leadership of the group in November last year after his brother was jailed for nine years on charges including blackmail and intimidation. |
The sons of an Egyptian father who married a local woman, both brothers rose through the ranks of the UDA in north Belfast before their expulsion. | The sons of an Egyptian father who married a local woman, both brothers rose through the ranks of the UDA in north Belfast before their expulsion. |