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Loyalist drug dealer 'untouched' Loyalist drug dealer 'untouched'
(20 minutes later)
A leading loyalist is being blamed for supplying drugs to a north Belfast teenager who later killed himself.A leading loyalist is being blamed for supplying drugs to a north Belfast teenager who later killed himself.
Dean Clarke, 16, from the Tigers Bay area, hanged himself days after taking a large number of horse tranquilisers.Dean Clarke, 16, from the Tigers Bay area, hanged himself days after taking a large number of horse tranquilisers.
Presbyterian minister Reverend Robert Beckett said there was a lot of fear in the community as the loyalist paramilitary "remained untouched".Presbyterian minister Reverend Robert Beckett said there was a lot of fear in the community as the loyalist paramilitary "remained untouched".
He said though he understood the restrictions faced by the PSNI, police were not active enough in the area.He said though he understood the restrictions faced by the PSNI, police were not active enough in the area.
"There are folks in the area who are making huge amounts of money selling drugs," he said. "Most people know who they are."There are folks in the area who are making huge amounts of money selling drugs," he said. "Most people know who they are.
"While there have been a number of drug dealers put out of the area in recent days - for cases that are unrelated to the Clarke incident - the major drug dealer, who is supposed to be a leading figure in loyalist circles, remains untouched.
The rumours are that this fellow has hundreds more of these tablets to provide to other people. Reverend Robert BeckettThe rumours are that this fellow has hundreds more of these tablets to provide to other people. Reverend Robert Beckett
"While there have been a number of drug dealers put out of the area in recent days - for cases that are unrelated to the Clarke incident - the major drug dealer, who is supposed to be a leading figure in loyalist circles, remains untouched.
"Nothing goes on in Tiger's Bay without the paramilitaries both knowing it and approving it.""Nothing goes on in Tiger's Bay without the paramilitaries both knowing it and approving it."
Dean Clarke spent almost a week in intensive care after taking the overdose. He was found hanged in the early hours of Saturday.Dean Clarke spent almost a week in intensive care after taking the overdose. He was found hanged in the early hours of Saturday.
Women in the area demonstrated against drug dealers on Sunday. Women in the area demonstrated against drug dealers on Sunday and the teenager's mother has called for drugs and dealers to be taken off the streets.
Dean's mother has called for drugs and dealers to be taken off the streets. Some people say a UDA figure is behind drug dealing
Reverend Beckett said: "There is a lot of fear in the community.Reverend Beckett said: "There is a lot of fear in the community.
"The reality is this young lad is dead. If it is true that this is the man who sold him these drugs, horse tranquilisers, to a young lad who just turned 16..."The reality is this young lad is dead. If it is true that this is the man who sold him these drugs, horse tranquilisers, to a young lad who just turned 16...
"The rumours are that this fellow has hundreds more of these tablets to provide to other people."The rumours are that this fellow has hundreds more of these tablets to provide to other people.
"Is it not related to the death of this young fellow? Should this man not be charged with manslaughter?""Is it not related to the death of this young fellow? Should this man not be charged with manslaughter?"
Frankie Gallagher of the Ulster Political Research Group, the political wing of the Ulster Defence Association, told BBC News the drugs problem in north Belfast was "widespread".
He said their goal was to take all drug dealers off the streets.
Mr Gallagher added that a number of meetings were being held over the issue.