Victim 'not in UVF'

John Allen with his sister, Amanda, in August

The father of a man murdered by loyalist paramilitaries in County Antrim has said his son was not involved with the Ulster Volunteer Force.

John Allen, 31, died after being shot in the head and legs at a flat at Rashee Park, Ballyclare, on Saturday.

His father, also named John, said he believed his son may have been targeted as he was the best friend of a man on a witness protection scheme in a court case involving alleged UVF members.

Mr Allen said the police had told him the killing was carried out by the UVF, but he denied claims that the shooting was meant as a paramilitary-style attack.

He said he believed loyalist gunmen meant to murder his son.

These are unsubstantiated allegations that he was in the UVF John Allen

"It was a callous and cold blooded murder carried out by the UVF," Mr Allen said.

"John had been shot twice in the head. There were no other marks on his body."

Mr Allen said police told him John had had a warning from the UVF to get out, which he ignored.

"He said they weren't going to put him out of the town," Mr Allen said.

"I would just like to ask the UVF and David Ervine to tell me why. We just want to know why?

"These are unsubstantiated allegations that he was in the UVF... it is just very hurtful to see this coming out in the media. He was against them, he stood up to them, he was a thorn in their side."

On Sunday, loyalist and other sources insisted that the shooting was not sanctioned by the paramilitary leadership.

According to BBC Northern Ireland security editor Brian Rowan, that denial would appear to fit with security assessments.

Sources believed the attack was a paramilitary-style attack that ended in murder.

Loyalist sources have suggested that the victim had been a member of the UVF and other sources have confirmed he had links with that group.

John Allen's father, also called John, said loyalists had intended to murder his son

Progressive Unionist Party leader David Ervine, whose party is aligned to the UVF, said he unequivocally condemned the shooting.

However, whether or not the murder was sanctioned, it will raise questions about political contacts with the party at government and other levels.

Mr Allen was shot by two masked men who fired several shots from a handgun.

He was taken to Antrim Area Hospital but died a few hours later.

The police said they were following a number of lines of inquiry but as yet had no motive for the attack.

They have not ruled out paramilitary involvement.

On Sunday, Chief Inspector Colin Sturgeon described the attack as a "heinous crime".

"I am not really interested in what the victim may or may not have done or what people think of him," he said.

"I am interested in catching the people who murdered him."

Security Minister Jane Kennedy condemned the murder as "a brutal act".

She urged anyone with any information about the murder to contact the police.