UDA vows to keep up attacks on Catholic homes in new housing development

Sunday World

2 days ago

The Sunday World can reveal the terror group has no intention of letting up
West Belfast UDA has vowed to maintain its attacks on a mixed housing development in the north of the city.
Residents in a new project in Alloa and Annalee streets in the Oldpark area have had the run the gauntlet of a series of attacks on their homes over the last few weeks.
The Sunday World can reveal the terror group has no intention of letting up.
A number of homes have been attacked windows broken and residents at the Clanmill Housing Association development being warned that they risk being burned out if they refuse to leave.
Some of the homes that were targeted
There have been a series of public meetings and this week the First and Deputy First Ministers condemned the attacks.
We can also reveal that Justice Minister Naomi Long is to meet a delegation early next week, including independent City Councillor Paul McCusker who has been a vocal advocate for the targeted families.
He will be joined by victims campaigner Raymond McCord, who has been in constant contact with families over the period of the attacks.
Two others, representatives of the residents, are also expected to attend.
According to sources, the campaign is being waged by long-time drug dealer Mo Courtney with the blessing of alleged West Belfast Brigadier Matt Kincaid and support from convicted extortionist Geordie Taggart who lives close to the targeted development.
Some of the homes that were targeted
According to loyalist sources, Courtney has boasted that he has no intention of letting up — and has vowed to step up attacks.
'He has said he will keep going until they've gone,' said our source.
The Sunday World understands there is a UDA drug house in the area and the terror mob is concerned an influx of people from outside the area may compromise its safety.
The local population has lived under UDA threats and intimidation for decades.
'It's about control, total control — they will do anything to protect their drugs trade, the arrival of outsiders brings with it the possibility of questions being asked.'
Read more Five Catholic families refuse to flee after new homes smashed up by UDA thugs
Convicted killer and lower Shankill UFF boss Courtney has had an iron grip on the area's drug trade for years.
Close associate Taggart has been identified as a main player in the attacks on houses.
He is believed to have sanctioned the intimidation after discovering Catholic families moved into Alloa Street and Annalee Street, off Manor Street.
UDA sources have told the Sunday World the associates of the 63-year-old launched the sectarian attacks spree with the approval of the leadership.
The group started by spreading false stories of people playing loud 'rebel music'' and of kids wearing GAA tops.
'GAA tops? How can grown men be afraid of kids wearing sports tops? Anyway, it was all lies. Pathetic.'
Three of the families targeted in the UDA attacks fled their homes permanently. They have been offered temporary accommodation in a local hotel and face the prospect of going back to the bottom of housing waiting lists.
At a meeting with other targeted families, they were told the PSNI had intelligence the properties were to be petrol-bombed that evening.
Police have confirmed the motive behind the Alloa Street and Annalee Street attacks is sectarian and were treating the incidents as hate crime.
Geordie Taggart, who sources have linked to the attacks, has managed to keep a particularly low profile but is understood to lead the UDA in the lower Oldpark area. He was jailed in 2000 for running protection rackets for the terror group. Taggart was sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted on eight counts of blackmail at Belfast Crown Court.
The case centred on an attempt to extort £3,000 from a building contractor operating in the north Belfast area.
The trio are also closely associated with alleged drug dealer Roy Douglas, also believed to live close to the targeted streets.
He is a close associated of Courtney's and has been under investigation by the PSNI for alleged drug dealing.
The 60-year-old's home has been searched twice by officers from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force as part of anti-UDA drug-dealing operations. He was never charged and has previously denied any involvement in terrorism or drugs.
Homes on Annalee Street
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In a separate development, the north Belfast attacks are to be discussed at a specially convened meeting of the Irish government's Good Friday Implementation Committee.
Raymond McCord, who sits on the government-appointed body, said the issue of sectarian attacks is as prevalent today as it was decades ago.
He said the committee is also to consider the flow of Irish taxpayers' money to grant aid community projects in loyalist areas.
'Many of the people behind these attacks are growing fat on the back of public funds yet continue to carry out these attacks. It's wrong and has to stop, starting with their funding.'
The north Belfast attacks comes weeks after a similar UDA campaign of intimidation aimed at families in a mixed housing development in Lisburn.
And in recent weeks two Catholic families have been forced to quit their homes in the Skegoneill area of north Belfast after being targeted by a known UDA drug dealer.
In all instances the PSNI has appealed for information.