The UDA in north Belfast is now a spent force, a senior police officer declared yesterday after so-called leading loyalist Andre Khaled Shoukri was jailed for a total of nine years for a catalogue of offences including blackmail, intimidation and acquiring criminal property.
Detective Inspector Mark Brown said the police operation to bring 30-year-old Shoukri and two others to justice "has had the effect of dismantling the leadership of the UDA in north Belfast".
In all Shoukri, known to his cohorts as "the big man" was jailed on a total of 18 charges, including using "certain criminal property, namely a money transfer" from a building society to buy his Clare Height's home in Belfast in November 2004.
Jailed with him was John "Bonzer" Boreland, (38) from Sunningdale Gardens, on four charges of blackmail, one of intimidation and one of possessing a firearm, or imitation firearm to commit assault, and 25-year-old Terry Harbinson from Tyndale Gardens, Belfast, who admitted charges of blackmail and intimidation and possession.
Boreland, pictured, was also given nine years, while Harbinson was jailed for seven years.
A former Met policeman – 47-year-old, Ian Peter Craig of Garland Hill, Manse Road, Belfast – turned mortgage adviser, who aided and abetted, counselled or procured Shoukri in the dishonest obtaining of a money transfer was freed when his two-year jail term was suspended for three years.
However, because Shoukri and Boreland have already served two years in jail awaiting sentence, under the 50% remission rule, both men could be back out on the streets within three-and-a-half years.
Speaking outside Belfast Crown Court Mr Brown said the convictions were "a clear demonstration that individuals who commit serious crime will be pursued by the police and when convicted, go to prison for a long time".
He added that Shoukri, Boreland and Harbinson "thought they were above the law. You could say they thought they were untouchable. The fact is they were not".
"Those who prey on individuals and communities through extortion are not untouchable," Inspector Brown, who appealed for victims of extortion to come forward to help police end the scourge, said.
"Police will continue to work to disrupt and dismantle these criminal gangs, but they need people who are victims of extortion to work with them.
"If victims work with us, we will have more success in taking dangerous criminals off the streets and making our communities safer".
Jailing Shoukri, Mr Justice Treacy told him that apart from his belated pleas of guilty "there was little that could be said on your behalf by way of mitigation given the grave nature of the offences and the fact that you have a previous conviction for blackmail, also involving commercial premises in the same area as the present offences".
The court had heard that the blackmail charges involved a north Belfast bar which was almost bankrupted by "the greed" of Shoukri and his cohorts.
Mr Justice Treacy said the blackmail began in June 2004 when "Witness A" effectively took over the north Belfast bar, which cannot be named for legal reasons, and demanded £1,000 protection money.
"Witness A was aware by reputation both [Shourkri and Boreland], were involved in the UDA," the judge said, and that 'A' "ultimately, reluctantly negotiated and agreed" to pay £200 per week.
Mr Justice Treacy said that for the next year the monies were paid over on a regular basis, during which time Shoukri and Boreland strutted around the bar as if they owned it, taking drink and carryouts without paying, even emptying the gaming machines.
In addition, two further particular incidents occurred, one involving Boreland alone in December 2004 where he demanded and got the repayment of £500 that he had paid for food at a wedding reception.
Boreland's logic was that since he had introduced the business to the bar, he should not have to pay for the food.
He also got a further £1,000, after an initial demand for £2,000, as his share of the business the wedding party supposedly, but in fact had not, brought in.
Mr Justice Treacy said that "matters got progressively worse and by May 2005 the amount of money being taken meant no profit was being made".
By the end of that month Witness A and her partner 'B' were forced to borrow £4,000 from family and friends and hand over the books and keys to the bar after Witness B had a gun put to his head during a confrontation with Boreland and Harbinson.
Mr Justice Treacy said that by July 2005 "a covert operation was launched, which involved the covert recording of conversations".
The undercover police operation led to the arrest of Shoukri and the others and their sentencing yesterday.
