UVF knew Belfast gun victims not republicans, trial hears

Eamonn Fox and Gary Convie were shot dead at their workplace in north Belfast

Former UVF commander turned supergrass Gary Haggarty said the group "targeted two innocent Catholic workmen" and knew they were not republicans.

Eamon Fox, a 41-year-old father of six, and 24-year-old father of one Gary Convie were shot dead as they ate their lunch in north Belfast in May 1994.

James Stewart Smyth, 57, is accused of their murders.

Haggarty took the stand on Tuesday morning for a second day of questioning in a packed court.

He has been in witness protection in England since being released from prison in 2018 after serving a reduced sentence for terrorism offences.

The offences included five murders, among them the two workmen that Mr Smyth is on trial for.

Haggarty was questioned by a defence barrister who asked: "When did the UVF discover your targets weren't republicans?"

He replied: "I don't think Tiger's Bay UVF's military commander and director of operations thought they were anything other than innocent Catholics.

"I think it was a front to say they were republicans," Haggarty said.

"They were two innocent Catholic workmen. I think the leadership of the UVF knew that at that time."

Gary Haggarty has been in witness protection in England since being released from prison in 2018

Haggarty was asked who was the UVF leadership at that time? Haggarty replied: "Mark Haddock and Roy Stewart."

He told the court that at the time Haddock was the military commander of the UVF in Tiger's Bay in north Belfast and Stewart was the director of operations of the UVF.

Haggarty was a paid Special Branch informant for 13 years.

He told the court he informed his handlers that "something was going to happen" that day.

He said: "I took the day off work, had to test fire a weapon.

"So, something was going to happen. With the benefit of hindsight, it was to kill Mr Fox and Mr Convie."

Haggarty described his role in the double murders as "pretty key".

He said: "I supplied the gun and walked the gunman down to the entry. It was a pretty easy role."

A defence barrister asked Haggarty about his time as an informant, saying: "Self-preservation was pretty much at the forefront of your mind?"

Haggarty replied "yes".

The defence barrister asked: "Police knew you were a terrorist?"

Haggarty replied: "Police knew exactly what I was."

He told the court that Special Branch knew he was an active terrorist, adding: "By 1994 I'd been arrested for four murders and Special Branch continued to employ me for another 10 years. Special Branch knew exactly what I was".

"You didn't want the UVF to know you were a tout [informer] did you?" the barrister asked.

"That's true," Haggarty replied.

Witness 'scuppered' mass shooting

The supergrass also told Belfast Crown court that he foiled a plan to kill 19 Catholic men in a work minibus in June 1994.

Haggarty said the attack was to be one of three planned shootings after the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) shot dead three senior UVF members on the Shankill Road in Belfast.

He told the court that he told his Special Branch handlers about the plan as soon as he was made aware of it.

"The police put a checkpoint in the area and scuppered that event," he said.

Haggarty also told the court that police in Northern Ireland continued to employ him as a paid agent after he had been questioned about four murders and when they knew he was an "active terrorist".