Loyalist denies terrorism charges

Ihab Shoukri appeared in court on Thursday

A prominent Belfast loyalist has been remanded in custody after appearing in court on terrorism charges.

Ihab Shoukri is charged with membership of the UDA/UFF on a date between January and March this year.

The 32-year-old, of Westland Drive, faced a second charge of professing to be a member of that organisation.

The court heard Mr Shoukri had been found in the company of several men in paramilitary dress when police raided the Alexandra Bar on 2 March.

A speech supporting the Ulster Defence Association was found on one of the men which a handwriting expert would say had been written by the accused, a prosecution lawyer told the court.

The court was told that when charged, Mr Shoukri said: "I have recently been acquitted of that charge. I have to ask whose agenda is being served here?"

He was remanded in custody until next week when he appeared at Thursday's hearing at Belfast Magistrates Court.