UDA gang leader ousted

As infighting continues within the ranks of the UDA, East Belfast's so-called brigadier, Jim Gray, has been ousted by the loyalist paramilitary organisation.

Gray was one of six brigadiers running the North's largest loyalist grouping. It is believed he took control of the UDA in East Belfast in the mid-1990s, after its then leader became a recluse due to alcoholism.

The decision to remove 43-year-old Gray and other senior East Belfast leaders was announced in a statement released shortly after he failed to appear at a UDA leadership meeting on Wednesday 30 March.

Gray's East Belfast faction has long been accused of involvement in the drugs trade and racketeering.

Wednesday's statement read: "As from 12.30pm 30 March 2005, the Ulster Defence Association has stood down the current leadership of the East Belfast UDA until further notice. To dispel any confusion, the East Belfast UDA are now under the direct command of the Inner Council."

Lifestyle

Loyalist sources claimed that the decision to oust Gray was taken in the belief that his lifestyle will soon be investigated by the Assets Recovery Agency.

Gray owned a number of public bars, including the Bunch of Grapes, which was badly damaged by fire in 2001. It was thought that loyalist George Legge, whose body was found on the outskirts of Belfast in 2001, had been tortured and killed in the East Belfast bar and that the fire was set to destroy any forensic evidence left behind.

Gray was shot in the face in September 2002 as he visited the home of LVF drugs baron Stephen Warnock, whose killing over drugs sparked a loyalist feud.

It later emerged that one-time West Belfast UDA leader Johnny Adair had been in the Warnock household at the time of the attack.

In February 2003, Gray is believed to have been the intended target of a gun attack in East Belfast at the same time as supporters of Adair gunned down southeast Antrim brigadier John Greg as he left Belfast docks.