Funeral for murdered loyalist

Jackie Coulter and Bobby Mahood were shot in jeep

The funeral is due to take place on Thursday for one victim of a double killing linked to a feud between loyalist paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland.

Jackie Coulter, a senior Ulster Defence Association member, and Bobby Mahood were shot dead as they sat in a jeep outside a bookmakers on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast on Monday afternoon.

Their murders were linked to an escalating feud between the rival loyalist paramilitary groups the UDA/Ulster Freedom Fighters and the Ulster Volunteer Force.

A man arrested by police over the double murder was released without charge on Wednesday night.

Mr Mahood's remains will leave his home at Snugville Street, off the Protestant Shankill Road in west Belfast, on Thursday afternoon.

He will be buried in Carnmoney Cemetery in County Antrim.

John White: Blamed the UVF for the killing

John White of the Ulster Democratic Party, which is linked to the UFF/UDA, blamed the UVF for the killings.

Mr Coulter and Mr Mahood were shot after tensions in the loyalist community erupted on Saturday at a UDA-linked festival on the Shankill Road.

Shots were fired into the Rex Bar that afternoon, injuring seven people.

Billy Hutchinson of the Progressive Unionist Party, which is linked to the UVF, blamed the UDA/UFF for that attack.

However, he said the people drinking in the bar had been ordinary people and not UVF members.

Tensions were also raised when a UFF/UDA colour party standing on the festival stage let off a volley of shots in a so-called show of strength, cheered on by crowds of people.

Meanwhile, a decision to return loyalist leader Johnny Adair to prison on Tuesday night was said to have raised further tensions in the Shankill area.

Political allies

The convicted Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) leader was returned to prison on Tuesday after his licence was suspended by Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson.

According to BBC sources, Mr Mandelson was given "high-grade" intelligence reports detailing Adair's activities since he was released from prison under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement last September.

These included his links with the splinter paramilitary group, the Loyalist Volunteer Force, and his alleged involvement in the swapping of guns.

But Adair's political allies have said he will challenge the decision to return him to prison.

Adair was convicted of directing terrorism and had served five years of a 16-year sentence before his release.