Widow finds bullet in coat

John Gregg was shot dead in an ambush in Belfast docks area

The police have apologised to the family of murdered loyalist after his widow found a spent bullet in his clothes which were returned to her.

John Gregg, the leader of the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Defence Association in south east Antrim was shot dead in an ambush in Belfast's docks area in February.

The bullet was found by Linda Gregg in the lining of the leather coat her husband was wearing when he was attacked.

Loyalist councillor Tommy Kirkham, who was a friend of Gregg's, have called for an inquiry into how vital evidence was overlooked.

He said: "We would ask Chief Constable Hugh Orde if this latest incident was just totally unprofessional or something more sinister.

"No matter what anybody thinks of John Gregg, he had a family who have been left devastated by this. This spent bullet is vital evidence and it is unbelievable it could have been missed."

Police investigation

A police spokesperson apologised for "this unfortunate oversight and any distress caused to the Gregg family".

The bullet was found in the lining of the leather jacket

"But we would stress that this has not hindered the police investigation in any way. This investigation is still very active."

Followers of the convicted loyalist leader Johnny Adair have been blamed for Gregg's killing.

The feud erupted after the UDA leadership expelled Adair and his close associate John White in September.

However, following Gregg's murder, up to 100 members of Adair's C Company in the lower Shankill area of west Belfast switched allegiance to other parts of the organisation.

Adair's family and supporters left their homes under police escort and are believed to have left the province.

Adair remains in prison after the Northern Ireland Secretary, Paul Murphy, revoked his early release licence for his involvement in what was described as "a litany of terrorist crimes".

John Gregg, was jailed in the 1980s for attempting to murder Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams in Belfast city centre.