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01/09/2009
Loyalist Killer Quizzed Over Murder
A convicted loyalist murderer is being quizzed by the North's police over the death of a WWII war veteran.
Jimmy Crockard - a former UVF 'supergrass' - who has been living in Spain, is being questioned about the murder of a 92-year-old pensioner.
Charles Stead, who was beaten to death at his home in Dundonald, Co Down in February 2007 was a Royal Navy veteran.
Crockard was returned to Maghaberry prison last month after his early release licence was revoked and he was transferred from Maghaberry prison to Antrim police station on Tuesday.
The 56-year-old loyalist had been living in Spain after serving just eight years of a life sentence for the murders of two Catholic men in Belfast over 30 years ago.
However, he has consistently denied having any involvement in the killing of Mr Stead.
It is reported that PSNI detectives recently travelled to Benidorm on the Costa Blanca to hunt for Crockard but they were unable to find him.
Then, last month Crockard said: "I have come back to Northern Ireland to clear my name."
Crockard originally fled to Spain in 2007 from England where he had been living as it is thought he feared he was about to be recalled to prison.
Soon afterwards, NIO Security Minister Paul Goggins revoked Crockard's licence because he had breached its conditions - a decision on the basis of information from police in England and from the PSNI.
As a so-called 'supergrass' infomant, Crockard testified against 29 loyalists on over 90 UVF linked offences.
See: Police appeal for information on murdered pensioner
(BMcc/GK)
Jimmy Crockard - a former UVF 'supergrass' - who has been living in Spain, is being questioned about the murder of a 92-year-old pensioner.
Charles Stead, who was beaten to death at his home in Dundonald, Co Down in February 2007 was a Royal Navy veteran.
Crockard was returned to Maghaberry prison last month after his early release licence was revoked and he was transferred from Maghaberry prison to Antrim police station on Tuesday.
The 56-year-old loyalist had been living in Spain after serving just eight years of a life sentence for the murders of two Catholic men in Belfast over 30 years ago.
However, he has consistently denied having any involvement in the killing of Mr Stead.
It is reported that PSNI detectives recently travelled to Benidorm on the Costa Blanca to hunt for Crockard but they were unable to find him.
Then, last month Crockard said: "I have come back to Northern Ireland to clear my name."
Crockard originally fled to Spain in 2007 from England where he had been living as it is thought he feared he was about to be recalled to prison.
Soon afterwards, NIO Security Minister Paul Goggins revoked Crockard's licence because he had breached its conditions - a decision on the basis of information from police in England and from the PSNI.
As a so-called 'supergrass' infomant, Crockard testified against 29 loyalists on over 90 UVF linked offences.
See: Police appeal for information on murdered pensioner
(BMcc/GK)
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Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
