CHARGES against the nine defendants accused of the murder of UDA man Tommy English were dismissed at a hearing in Belfast Crown Court today (February 22).

From September, 14 men have stood accused of a litany of offences based around the evidence of two brothers from New Mossley who became “assisting offenders” in order to receive a reduced sentence for themselves.

In the closing stages of the trial a number of charges were thrown out, clearing one man.

On Wednesday, (February 22) all but one of the remaining 13 accused had all charges against them dismissed.

Neil Pollock, 36, of Fortwilliam Gardens was found guilty of perverting the course of justice and possessing an item intended for terrorism, namely a sledgehammer.

Acquitted of Mr English’s murder were Mark Haddock, 43, whose address was given at HMP Maghaberry; David Miller, 40, from Uprichard Court Bangor; Alexander Thomas Wood, 35, of Milewater Way Newtownabbey; John Bond, 45 of Essex Court, Carrickfergus; Darren Stuart Moore, 42, of Mount Vernon Park Belfast; Ronald Trevor Bowe, 35, of Ross House Belfast; Samuel Jason Higgins, 3,6 of The Meadow Antrim; Jason Loughlin, 36, of Bryson Court Newtownabbey, and Philip Laffin, 34, of Bridge Street, Antrim.

They were also cleared of other charges including UVF membership, wounding, possessing guns and hijacking.

The others acquitted of offences including assisting offenders and perverting the course of justice were William Hinds, 47, of Ballycraigy Gardens, Newtownabbey, David Samuel McCrum, 32, of Beechgrove Drive, Newtownabbey, and Mark Thompson, 37, of Ballyvesey Green, Newtownabbey.

In a packed out Court 12 at Belfast’s Laganside, Judge Justice Gillen said that the evidence of brothers Robert and Ian Stewart, was so “flawed and unreliable” that the supporting evidence was not compelling enough to satisfy him beyond all reasonable doubt.

He said the brothers - formerly of New Mossley, but who are currently serving time for crimes they have committed - were of “extremely bad character”, whose memories had been subject to the abuses of alcohol and drugs over the years.

He stated that the brothers lied to the police and to the court, not only about why they had come forward, but also about their roles in crimes and in their retelling of events.

He said both colluded at times for their witnesses statements which compromised their independence and he could not rely on either man’s evidence.

Justice Gillen described both Ian and Robert Stewart as “ruthless terrorists who lived on lies”.

And he said he did not think it plausible that they were remorseful for their involvement in the murder of Tommy English in Ballyduff in 2000, when they continued on with criminal acts after the event.

He said: “They were the same men in different suits.

“At worst, they falsely embellished or, at best, wildly confused the roles and words of those whom they alleged were present, have clear difficulties distinguishing one crime scene from another and have given evidence which is flatly contradicted by unchallenged independent evidence throughout the process.

“These are witnesses of very bad character who have lied to the police and to the court.

“And they may have wrongly implicated a number of innocent men.”

Justice Gillen praised the “courage, determination and dedication” shown of the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) investigators and said he was “in no doubt” that the police were determined to bring English’s killers to justice.

The judgement was met with applause from the public gallery and outside the court there was scenes of joy as the men embraced each other and family members.

PUP representative Ken Wilkinson, speaking outside the court branded the proceedings a “show trial” and questioned why the Public Prosecution Service relied so heavily on the Stewart brothers.

A representative of Families Against Supergrass Trials said it was “regrettable” the proceedings had come to court in the first place.

The trial began in September and was based largely around the evidence of Robert and Ian Stewart.

They admitted UVF membership, and have already served more than three years for their part in the murder of Mr English on Halloween night 2000.

The UDA man was shot dead in front of his wife and children at his home in the Ballyduff estate at the height of a loyalist feud between the UVF and UDA.

A CROSS-COMMUNITY facility in Glengormley which was destroyed in an arson attack in July 2010 is set to reopen early next month.

The Barron Hall on the Antrim Road has been completely refurbished over the past four months, and building work at the historic property is expected to be complete by the end of February.

User groups which were forced to find alternative temporary accommodation following the fire, including the Community Relations Forum and Newtownabbey Senior Citizens’ Forum, are expected to return to the hall in early March. And it is hoped that other organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and youth and community groups will also be back to make use of the impressive new facility.

Kathy Wolff, Co-ordinator of the Community Relations Forum, said she can’t wait to move back into the hall and continue pursuing the vision of turning the building into a well-used peace and reconciliation centre.

“We had an average footfall of about 100 people a week before, and maybe another 80 or 90 on nights when we were running events, so the place was well used, and we’ve had a lot of enquiries already from individuals and groups about using the place, so we’re really looking forward to the work being finished and the place being up and running again.”

Thanking local churches and community organisations for their help and support, Kathy described the pending completion of work at the hall as “very positive for the local community.”

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A MAJOR review in the provision of Catholic education could see Glengormley’s Edmund Rice College amalgamate with other schools in the north Belfast area.

The Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education (NICCE) has published its report containing recommendations for every one of the sector’s post primary schools.

Decreasing pupil numbers along with soaring budgets and increasing debt has prompted recommendations for school closures, amalgamations and the opening of new facilities.

The sweeping changes proposed aim to create a new network of “all-ability” schools removing the necessity for transfer tests.

While the review is only a starting point, it has recommended merging seven schools in north Belfast, including Edmund Rice College, to create four facilities.

Announcing the radical proposals, Cardinal Sean Brady said it was “for the better” and would provide “more sustainable education” but admitted “hard decisions” would have to be made.

Teachers’ unions have criticised the omission of a deadline for the ending of academic selection and the lack of detail contained in the report about school groupings or a timescale for the changes.

The proposals will be considered by school trustees and be put forward for public consultation before Education Minister John O’Dowd makes the final decision in each case.

The Times attempted to contact staff at Edmund Rice College, but the school is on its half-term break.

IRRESPONSIBLE dog owners are costing the council “thousands upon thousands of pounds” it was revealed at a recent meeting of the organisation’s Environment Committee.

At the meeting held earlier this month, councillors were informed about two convictions for littering.

Lorraine Morrison of Derrycoole Way in Rathcoole was found guilty of a littering offence.

Morrison, who did not appear in court, was fined £75 and ordered to pay costs of £104 at Laganside Magistrates’s Court on January 10.

And Colleen Macauley of Fernagh Parade pleaded guilty to allowing a dog she was in charge of, to foul in Threemilewater Park.

Macauley was fined £50 and ordered to pay costs of £101 at Laganside Magistrates’ Court on January 10.

Councillor Ken Robinson said the small number of convictions “did not tally with the huge number of complaints he had received”.

A number of councillors said littering, and in particular dog fouling, was a massive problem in and around the borough.

Read the full story in this week’s Times...