Mark Haddock (born 1968) is an

Ulster loyalist Ulster loyalism is a strand of Ulster unionism associated with working class Ulster Protestants in Northern Ireland. Like other unionists, loyalists support the continued existence of Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom, and oppose a uni ...

paramilitary leader and

RUC Special Branch RUC Special Branch was the Special Branch of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and was heavily involved in the British state effort during the Troubles, especially against the Provisional Irish Republican Army. It worked closely with MI5 and the Int ...

informer in

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

, who has been named by various sources in connection with more than twenty-one killings. He is a member of the

Ulster Volunteer Force The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) is an Ulster loyalist paramilitary group. Formed in 1965, it first emerged in 1966. Its first leader was Gusty Spence, a former British Army soldier from Northern Ireland. The group undertook an armed campaig ...

(UVF),Loyalist jailed for 'savage' act
BBC. Retrieved 6 March 2015. and was that organisation's North

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdo ...

commander before his arrest by police in 2005.

Early years

Mark Haddock was born and raised in the

Mount Vernon Mount Vernon is an American landmark and former plantation of Founding Father, commander of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War, and the first president of the United States George Washington and his wife, Martha. The estate is on ...

estate, a working-class housing development in north Belfast dominated by the UVF. He was educated at Lowwood Primary School (1973–1980) and Dunlambert Secondary School for Boys (1980–1985).

Mount Vernon UVF

As leader of the UVF in Mount Vernon, Haddock presided over one of the organisation's most active units in the latter stages of

the Troubles The Troubles ( ga, Na Trioblóidí) were an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted about 30 years from the late 1960s to 1998. Also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflict, it is sometimes described as an "i ...

. Although frequently discussed in the ''

Sunday World The ''Sunday World'' is an Irish newspaper published by Independent News & Media. It is the second largest selling "popular" newspaper in the Republic of Ireland, and is also sold in Northern Ireland where a modified edition with more stories r ...

'' by Martin O'Hagan, he was never referred to by name until 20 August 2003, when his picture appeared on the front cover of the ''

Belfast Telegraph The ''Belfast Telegraph'' is a daily newspaper published in Belfast, Northern Ireland, by Independent News & Media. Its editor is Eoin Brannigan. Reflecting its unionist tradition, the paper has historically been "favoured by the Protestant po ...

'', alongside a story identifying him as the head of the Mount Vernon UVF.

Raymond McCord Raymond Irvine McCordRaymond McCord, ''Justice For Raymond'', Gill & Macmillan, 2008, p. 1 (born 23 December 1953) is a victims rights campaigner from Northern Ireland. McCord became involved in the issue of victims rights after his son, Raymond ...

, ''Justice for Raymond'', Gill & Macmillan, 2008, p. 115. In October 2005, Labour TD

Pat Rabbitte Pat Rabbitte (born 18 May 1949) is an Irish former Labour Party politician who served as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources from 2011 to 2014, Leader of the Labour Party from 2002 to 2007 and a Minister of State from 199 ...

, using Dáil privilege, named Haddock as an

agent and as responsible for the killings of Sharon McKenna in 1993, Catholic builders Gary Convie and Eamon Fox in 1994, the alleged informer Thomas Sheppard in 1996, Protestant clergyman Rev David J. Templeton in 1997, Billy Harbinson in 1997, Raymond McCord Jnr in 1997, former UDA commander Tommy English in 2000, and David Greer in 2000. The claim that Haddock was an informer with a Special Branch "handler" was also made by the ''Sunday World'', campaigner

, the ''Belfast Telegraph'', ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

'' and

Ulster Television UTV (formerly Ulster Television, branded on air as ITV1) is the ITV region covering Northern Ireland, ITV subsidiary and the former on-air name of the free-to-air public broadcast television channel serving the area. It is run by ITV plc an ...

Trevor Gowdy attack

Pub doorman Trevor Gowdy was attacked at a social club in Monkstown in December 2002 following an earlier confrontation with members of Haddock's group at a bar in

Ballyclare Ballyclare () is a small town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 9,953 according to the 2011 census, and is located within the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council area. It sits on the river Six Mile Water. The town ...

. He was hit on the head and body with an iron bar, a hatchet and a bat, and suffered an "open" fractured skull and broken leg as well as various cuts and bruises. Police found him lying unconscious on the ground. Haddock was subsequently charged with the attempted murder of Gowdy. However on Friday, 29 September 2006, Haddock was cleared of Gowdy's attempted murder and found guilty of false imprisonment and "grievous bodily harm with intent". On Monday, 20 November 2006, Haddock was jailed for ten years for his part in the attack. On Tuesday 30 May 2006, while on bail for the attempted murder of Gowdy, Haddock was shot six times while travelling in

Newtownabbey Newtownabbey ( ) is a large settlement in North Belfast in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is separated from the rest of the city by Cavehill and Fortwilliam golf course. It surrounds Carnmoney Hill, and was formed from the merging of severa ...

, to the north of Belfast. Ronald Trevor Bowe, 29, from Mount Vernon Gardens, Belfast, was arrested and charged for Haddock's attempted murder. He was subsequently released on 22 November 2006 after Haddock indicated he did not wish to pursue a case against him.

Historical Enquires Team trial

In January 2009, Haddock was charged in connection with the killing of Tommy English.Man charged over loyalist murder

RTÉ News RTÉ News and Current Affairs ( ga, Nuacht agus Cúrsaí Reatha RTÉ), also known as RTÉ News (''Nuacht RTÉ''), is the national news service provided by Irish public broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Its services include local, nationa ...

, 14 January 2009Haddock in court over feud murder

BBC News BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broadca ...

, 8 January 2009. He was taken back into custody on 2 September 2011 as he prepared to face charges for the murder. On 21 July 2009, Haddock was arrested by officers from the

Historical Enquiries Team The Historical Enquiries Team was a unit of the Police Service of Northern Ireland set up in September 2005 to investigate the 3,269 unsolved murders committed during the Troubles, specifically between 1968 and 1998. It was wound up in September ...

(HET). He was questioned about the murders of John Harbinson in May 1997, Gary Convie and Eamon Fox in May 1994 and Sharon McKenna in January 1993, as well as a number of assaults and a shooting.Loyalist leader Haddock arrested

, 21 July 2009. The following day he was charged with the murder of a 39-year-old man in 1997. Haddock was slated to appear in court in Belfast on 23 July 2009, accused of killing John Harbinson. The Protestant was beaten to death in the Mount Vernon estate where Haddock's notorious gang wielded power.UVF leader charged with murder
breakingnews.ie. Retrieved 6 March 2015. The HET trial ended in February 2012 when Haddock and all but one of his co-defendants were acquitted of the charges against them. The judge called into question the evidence provided by Robert and Ian Stewart, two brothers who were members of the Mount Vernon UVF before turning "supergrass", denouncing them for their "bad character" and fabrication of evidence. Separate charges against Haddock for the killing of John Harbinson remained outstanding until 5 December 2012, when the Public Prosecution Service withdrew their case. This was on a "without prejudice" basis, allowing the police to continue their investigations and also allowing for the possibility of future charges against Haddock.Mark Haddock murder charge is withdrawn
BBC. Retrieved 6 March 2015.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Haddock, Mark 1968 births Date of birth missing (living people) British shooting survivors Loyalists imprisoned during the Northern Ireland conflict Paramilitaries from Belfast Irish people convicted of assault Ulster Volunteer Force members Living people