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Former MLA held in murder probe Arrest of loyalist sparks protest
(about 3 hours later)
One of seven people arrested by police investigating the murder of Belfast schoolboy Thomas Devlin is Progressive Unionist Party member Billy Hutchinson. Up to 30 people are staging a protest outside a police station where a senior member of the Progressive Unionist Party is being questioned.
The former assembly member is being held with three other men and three women at Antrim police station. Billy Hutchinson, a former assembly member, is one of seven people arrested by police investigating the murder of north Belfast schoolboy Thomas Devlin.
Thomas, 15, was stabbed close to his home in August 2005. Police believe his killers are from the Mount Vernon area.Thomas, 15, was stabbed close to his home in August 2005. Police believe his killers are from the Mount Vernon area.
Billy Hutchinson, a community worker, is a senior member of the PUP, the political representatives of the UVF. PUP leader Dawn Purvis said she was "angry" about Mr Hutchinson's arrest.
Mr Hutchinson, a former Ulster Volunteer Force prisoner, played a key role in the organisation's announcement earlier this year that it was standing down. "We all want to see the killers of Thomas brought to justice, that's without question, it was a despicable murder," she said.
Thomas Devlin was stabbed to deathThomas Devlin was stabbed to death
"But I do have to question the arrest of Billy Hutchinson. If police wanted to talk to Billy about comments he made, why did they not go to Mount Vernon Community House and speak to Billy there?"
A group of protestors have gathered outside Antrim police station, where the seven are being questioned.
No one has ever been charged with Thomas Devlin's murder.
Mr Hutchinson is a former assembly member for the Progressive Unionist Party, the political representatives of the Ulster Volunteer Force.
Now a community worker, he is also a former UVF prisoner who played a key role in the organisation's announcement earlier this year that it was standing down.
He also joined a senior UVF delegation in talks with General John de Chastelain, the head of the decommissioning body.He also joined a senior UVF delegation in talks with General John de Chastelain, the head of the decommissioning body.
PUP leader Dawn Purvis said she was "angry" about Mr Hutchinson's arrest.
"We all want to see the killers of Thomas brought to justice, that's without question, it was a despicable murder.
"But I do have to question the arrest of Billy Hutchinson. If police wanted to talk to Billy about comments he made, why did they not go to Mount Vernon Community House and talk to him, and why was his arrest leaked to the media within hours?"