Appeal by murder victim's girlfriend

Natalie Truesdale with murdered boyfriend Jonathan

The girlfriend of loyalist feud victim Jonathan Stewart has made a plea for the public's help in catching his killer.

Natalie Truesdale, 19, spoke out as detectives revealed that fear was preventing people from coming forward to assist their inquiry.

Mr Stewart, 22, was shot in north Belfast after attending a party on 27 December in an attack linked to a feud between rival loyalist paramilitary factions.

Natalie Truesdale: Appeal

More than 120 houses have been searched, but no-one has been charged with the murder.

Police also seized ammunition, drugs, two blank-firing guns and masks.

Detective Superintendent Roy Suitters said the police were braced for further attacks.

"We are laying the responsibility for this murder quite firmly at the door of (the UDA's) C Company," he said.

"These are people who set themselves up to be protectors of the Protestant people.

"But in fact, over the last couple of years they have murdered more Protestants than Catholics."

'Screaming'

During a news conference on Monday, Ms Truesdale wept as she recalled her last moments with her boyfriend of almost four years.

"I can remember just walking in and looking at him and he just smiled at me," she said.

"I went and sat back down and then the door got booted open and a gunman came in with a balaclava over his face.

I just want justice for him, he didn't deserve it

Natalie Truesdale
Victim's girlfriend

"People started screaming and I ran back into the kitchen. Jonathan was lying with blood running out of his face."

She added: "Please, please help the police to get these people off the streets. I just want justice for him, he didn't deserve it.

"It's just a feud which Jonathan should not have been brought into. He didn't have any paramilitary links, let them fight it out."

Last week, police revisited the murder scene and appealed for more information on the killing.

Leaflets were handed out to the public in an attempt to jog people's memories.

'Targeted'

Mr Stewart was standing in the kitchen of a house in Manor Street when a gunman forced his way into the house and singled him out.

Security and loyalist sources linked the murder to the feud within the loyalist Ulster Defence Association and believe it was carried out by paramilitaries from the lower Shankill.

Mr Stewart's family said he was not involved in any paramilitary organisation but said he may have been targeted because he is the nephew of a well known loyalist in the north Belfast area.

DS Roy Suitters: "Braced for further attacks"

The rift within the UDA began after two of its leading members, Johnny Adair and John White, were expelled from the organisation in October.

The organisation later called for its members to distance themselves from the two men. But both factions have continued to carry out attacks on each other, including attempted bombings of senior loyalists within the UDA leadership.

Last week, Roy Green, a member of the Ulster Defence Association, was shot dead in the Ormeau area of Belfast.

The paramilitary group, the Ulster Freedom Fighters - a cover name for the UDA - said it was behind the attack on the 32-year-old, an associate of Johnny Adair.