Challenge to loyalist's acquittal

Willliam "Mo" Courtney was acquitted of murder

A challenge to the acquittal of loyalist William 'Mo' Courtney on a murder charge will begin on 18 January.

It will be the first time prosecution lawyers in Northern Ireland have attempted to retry a person on a murder charge.

The prosecution claims the judge made a mistake and have lodged 10 grounds of appeal.

Last month, Courtney was acquitted of the murder of Alan McCullough who was shot dead in 2003.

Courtney is out on bail and was in court when the date for his re-trial was fixed.

Earlier hearing

Last month, Belfast Crown Court judge Mr Justice McLaughlin said he could not convict him of the murder of Mr McCullough - a former associate of UDA leader Johnny Adair - or UFF and UDA membership.

The body of Mr McCullough, 21, was found in a shallow grave on the outskirts of north Belfast. He had been shot.

An earlier hearing had been told that Mr McCullough had been a member of the so-called "C company" of the UDA - headed by Adair.

"C company" had been expelled from the UDA in 2002, and a number of its members, including the victim, had been ordered out of Northern Ireland by UDA leaders.

Mr McCullough returned to Northern Ireland in April 2003 and his body was found on 5 June.