Gun 'was protection from Adair'

Andre Shoukri denied the charges

A leading north Belfast loyalist has told a court that the gun which he was caught carrying was to protect himself from UDA commander Johnny Adair.

Andre Shoukri, 26, from Sunninghill Gardens, is on trial charged with having an illegal firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

He has denied the charges, claiming the gun was for his own personal protection.

Mr Shoukri initially denied knowing anything about the pistol when stopped in a car leaving the loyalist Rathcoole estate on 21 September last year, the court heard.

However, he later told police he obtained the weapon after being informed of a death threat from other loyalists.

Mr Shoukri told Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday that although he had been made aware of death threats from dissident republicans and loyalist groups, he did not act on them until a close friend told him Adair was going to "take him out".

He went to get a gun the next day, he said during evidence lasting more than an hour.

Adair was returned to prison in January this year, when his early release licence was revoked.

Earlier in the hearing, prosecuting QC John Creaney told Lord Justice McCollum that while it was accepted a threat on Mr Shoukri's life was made, he was not entitled to arm himself with a weapon.

'Death threat'

The lawyer also alleged that by arming himself, Mr Shoukri had shown himself to be a person "prepared to take offensive, as opposed to taking defensive action".

He said the Crown case was that the accused was in possession of the weapon "in circumstances - that a court could properly conclude - it was with intent to endanger life".

Mr Creaney said that when told of the death threat from loyalists by the police, Mr Shoukri responded by saying it came from the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force.

However, he said he "was not worried about that" and declined advice on personal security and crime prevention.

Mr Shoukri denies a total of four firearms offences, including possession of the pistol and 30 rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life, having it under suspicious circumstances and possessing a gun and ammunition without a firearms' certificate.

The trial continues.