Mr English, who was 40, was gunned down by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) in his Ballyduff home in front of his wife in October 2000. He died during a bloody fued between the two paramilitary organisations which claimed seven lives.

Mr English was a former member of an Ulster Democratic Party which had links to the UDA and UFF.

At Belfast Magistrates court on Thursday (Aug 7) David Stewart, 38 from Ballyearl Crescent and Robert Stewart, 34, from Carntall Rise both in New Mossley spoke only to confirm they understood the charges.

The case is the first to be brought to court by the PSNI’s Historical Enquiries Team (HET) - a special unit set up to look into unsolved murders.

The pair also faced charges relating to membership of the UVF.

A detective inspector investigating the case said she believed she could connect the brothers to all the offences.

Both men were remanded in custody to appear again on September 4 via video link.