Shoukri ordered to go to England

Ihab Shoukri was granted bail in the High Court

Belfast loyalist Ihab Shoukri has been granted bail in the High Court.

He was ordered to live in England after a judge refused to consider intelligence documents supporting claims he is a leading paramilitary.

Mr Shoukri was previously refused bail three times on charges arising from a raid on a Tiger's Bay bar last March.

In light of the on-going risks to his life, he was released on his own bail of £500 but ordered to live in England at an address approved by the police.

Prosecution counsel told the hearing in Belfast on Monday that he had intelligence documents which, he claimed, would prove Mr Shoukri was "not an ordinary paramilitary but a leading paramilitary".

But a defence lawyer said the three page-document was not being presented as evidence in the Crown court against him and should, therefore, not be considered in the bail hearing.

Granting bail, Mr Justice Weatherup said that due to "the climate of today", he would not accept the intelligence documents.

Mr Shoukri was also banned from associating with his co-accused "either directly or indirectly" and was told to obey a curfew and report to police on a daily basis.