UDA leader 'was caught with gun'

Andre Shoukri was arrested after police stopped car

A gun police saw Ulster Defence Association leader Andre Shoukri throw away was used in three paramilitary attacks, the High Court has heard.

Andre Shoukri, 25, who lives at Sunningdale Gardens, was refused bail when he appeared in court on Thursday charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

The court heard that police saw the gun being dropped by the paramilitary UDA's north Belfast leader in Rathcoole, on the outskirts of Belfast.

But the police confirmed that Shoukri received two death threats in the four days before he was arrested after the car he was in was stopped in Rathcoole last Saturday.

UDA's north Belfast leader Andre Shoukri is denying firearms charge

The preliminary results of forensic tests on the Walther pistol seized were revealed during a successful bail application by the owner and driver of the car in which Shoukri had been travelling.

The police said they believed the weapon was being collected when they stopped the vehicle last Saturday morning.

The driver of the car, 39-year-old William McCullough from Mackey Street in north Belfast is facing the same charges of possessing a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

He was granted bail after his lawyer told the court he was completely unaware of the gun.

Mr McCullough, who works in the shipyard, also denied any knowledge of the 30 rounds of ammunition found by police as they moved in on his Ford Sierra at Rathcoole Drive.

'On way to match'

He admitted he knew Shoukri socially and through playing soccer.

Counsel for McCullough told the court he had given Shoukri a lift to Rathcoole in order to organise a football match.

A prosecution barrister said Shoukri was seen by approaching police "fumbling" with something in the waistband of track suit bottoms he was wearing along with a light sports top.

When they got to Mr McCullough's car a grey sock and single bullet had fallen to the ground.

Inside the sock were discovered the gun and other bullets, 10 of which fitted the 9mm Walther pistol. The other 20 were 38 semi-automatic rounds.

The Crown lawyer said police would argue the weapon and ammunition were bound to have been visible to someone sitting beside Shoukri in a confined space like a car.

Death threats

Both Shoukri and Mr McCullough are denying the charges. Counsel said Shoukri had already made a statement to police exonerating him of any knowledge of the pistol.

The court heard Shoukri's defence would be that he had obtained the gun for his own protection because "he could trust no-one" after being warned twice by police in as many days that his life was under threat.

That claim was substantiated by a police constable involved in the case.

The judge was also told that the result of ballistic tests on the seized weapon had just become available on Thursday morning.

Mr McCullough was released on his own bail of £1000 with two separate sureties of the same amount. He was also told to stay out of Rathcoole, report daily to police and not associate with any member of any paramilitary organisation.