Loyalist supergrass Gary Haggarty to stand trial on 202 charges

Gary Haggarty appeared for the first time before Belfast Magistrates’ Court amid heavy security to have a record 202 charges put to him – including five terrorist killings.

The 44-year-old suspected UVF commander-turned police informer showed little emotion as the allegations were set out.

Haggarty, who is believed to be living at a secret location in England, was brought into court under police guard.

Dressed in a dark grey suit and wearing a poppy, he stood in the dock with his arms by his side throughout the preliminary enquiry hearing.

The north Belfast man has signed an agreement to become an assisting offender under the terms of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) back in 2010.

In a prosecution case running to 12,000 pages, the charges against him cover a 16-year period between 1991 and 2007. They include the following murders:

• Sean McParland, 55, a father of four from south Belfast gunned down while babysitting his grandchildren at a house in Skegoniel Avenue, Belfast in February 1994.

• Catholic workmen Eamon Fox, 44, and Gary Convie, 24, shot dead close to a building site on Belfast’s North Queen Street in May 1994.

• Sean McDermott, a 37-year-old Catholic shot found shot dead in his car near Antrim in August 1994.

• John Harbinson, murdered after being handcuffed and beaten by a UVF gang on the Mount Vernon estate in north Belfast in May 1997.

Haggarty is also accused of a litany of other terror-related offences, including:

• Five attempted murders and 25 conspiracy to murder charges.

• Four kidnappings, six false imprisonment and five hijacking.

• Nine counts of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life and 47 counts of having a firearm with intent.

• Eighteen charges of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

• Three counts of arson, two charges of conspiracy to defraud and a further allegation of concealing the proceeds of criminal conduct.

• Four charges of directing terrorism and five of belonging to a proscribed organisation.

• Seven counts of possessing money or property for the purposes of terrorism.

• Three charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and one count of causing actual bodily harm.

Asked if he understood the charges Haggarty, whose address is listed as c/o the Police Service of Northern Ireland, replied: “I do.”

Senior prosecutor Ciaran Murphy QC submitted that the accused has a case to answer.

Although defence counsel Martin O’Rourke raised no objection at this stage, he stressed: “That is without prejudice to any issues raised at the Crown Court.”

During the hearing Haggarty was given the chance to respond to the allegations, give evidence or call witnesses.

On each occasion he replied: “No, not at this time.”

District Judge Fiona Bagnall then granted the prosecution application.

She confirmed: “He is to be returned for trial at Belfast Crown Court on a date to be fixed.”

With Mrs Bagnall releasing Haggarty on continuing, undisclosed bail terms, he was escorted back out of court without further comment.