Them'UN's - Them and Us - Glorifying loyalist terrorism
Showing posts with label UVF leadership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UVF leadership. Show all posts
Friday, 19 August 2022
Wednesday, 10 August 2022
Councillors question East Belfast FC governance arrangements over Pitt Park accused Stephen 'Mackers' Matthews
Stephen Matthews is facing charges linked to a gathering of nearly 40 masked men at Pitt Park in February last year
East Belfast UVF show-of- strength at Pitt Park
Pitt Park accused Stephen 'Mackers' Matthews who was detained along with his son 'David Matthews' who were both arrested. during UVF show-of-strength
10th August, 2022.
Councillors have deferred endorsing a funding arrangement with a Belfast football club following questions over the involvement of a man accused of leading a loyalist show of strength.
Stephen Matthews, a former coach at East Belfast FC, is facing charges linked to a gathering of nearly 40 masked men at Pitt Park in February last year.
Prosecutors have contended that a group of men associated with the East Belfast UVF went into the area with their faces covered by scarves and hoods.
Disputed claims were made that up to 11 people living in the area fled their homes and sheltered for days in a nearby community centre.
Mr Matthews and his two co-accused appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court on charges of unlawful assembly, affray and intimidation in connection with the high-profile incident.
The defendants deny being involved and are not accused of any paramilitary offences.
Councillors question East Belfast FC governance arrangements over Pitt Park accused Stephen Matthews
Stephen Matthews is facing charges linked to a gathering of nearly 40 masked men at Pitt Park in February last year
Mr Matthews stepped down in May as head coach at East Belfast FC, which has a longstanding "partner agreement" with Belfast City Council providing up to £20,000 a year for sports development.
PUP (progressive unionist party) are the political wing of the UVF and also sit in the LCC (loyalist communities Council) which is made up of three paramilitary terrorist groups the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando.
The council's People and Communities Committee on Tuesday evening was asked to note a report providing an update on the partner agreements with several sports clubs.
But SDLP councillor Séamas de Faoite asked for the report to be deferred.
He told the committee: "Without prejudice I would like to propose that this report is brought back pending further information to committee members in writing.
"I have expressed my concerns about governance arrangements to officers in relation to serious allegations made in the print media and criminal charges facing individuals who may still be on the board of East Belfast Football Club.
"It is incumbent on Belfast City Council's partner organisations to take action to protect their own reputations, but they must also ensure public funders that their governance arrangements are robust."
A council official told Mr de Faoite there had been an "investigation" into the constitution of the board of East Belfast FC, adding: "We are satisfied that there are no issues."
Mr de Faoite asked for information to be provided in writing to elected members.
Councillors agreed to the move after Sinn Fein councillor Matt Garrett asked for the request not to "hold up" any of the arrangements for other clubs contained within the report.
Last month Mr Matthews, 59, of Pansy Street in Belfast, and his co-accused launched a legal bid to have the case thrown out.
Defence lawyers claimed there is insufficient evidence to return the trio for trial, describing the charges as an attempt to “grasp at smoke”.
With many thanks to: Belfast Live and Brendan Hughes Politicial reporter for the original publication.
Follow these links to find out more on this story: DUP MLA defends UVF accused father and son charged with loyalist Pitt Park 'show of strength'
Councillors question East Belfast FC governance arrangements over Pitt Park accused Stephen Matthews
Saturday, 25 June 2022
EXCLUSIVE Top loyalist 'Mackers' fails in bid to gag Sunday Life over UVF leadership claims
EXCLUSIVE SUNDAY LIFE STORY
Top loyalist Stephen ‘Mackers’ Matthews has lost a last-minute High Court bid to stop Sunday Life naming him as the reported head of the East Belfast UVF.
Pound Shop lawyer Jamie Bryson (right), told the Sunday Life that 'Mackers' (left) planned to issue injunction proceedings to prevent him being named in tomorrow's paper as Head of the East Belfast UVF
June 25th,2022.
The inside story on how the gang has had more than £1m worth of drugs seized by police in the last year is revealed in tomorrow’s edition.
But when the newspaper contacted Matthews for comment, it was told by Jamie Bryson that Matthews planned to issue injunction proceedings to prevent his name being mentioned in the story.
Sunday Life’s lawyers then received legal papers from Matthews’ solicitors on Friday evening and the case was quickly assigned to a judge.
The injunction hearing went ahead at 10am this morning in front of Mr Justice David Scoffield at the High Court in Belfast.
After hearing two hours of detailed submissions by barristers for Sunday Life and Matthews, he threw out the application.
However, after objections from Sunday Life’s barrister, Gerald Simpson QC, Mr Justice Scoffield also refused that application.
Commenting on the High Court victory, Martin Breen, deputy editor-in-chief of the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life, said: “Sunday Life has a long and proud history of publishing important stories.
“We were not prepared to drop the story due to threats of High Court action. We are very happy that Mr Justice Scoffield has recognised the importance of freedom of expression in our society and that we are now free to publish this story.”
Edward McCann, deputy publisher at Sunday Life’s parent company, Mediahuis, said: “This verdict was an important win for press freedom, with the court re-emphasising that, in general, editors, rather than judges, are best placed to decide what is published in newspapers.
“Mediahuis believes in public interest journalism. In what was a very considered judgment delivered at short notice, Mr Justice Scoffield acknowledged the public interest in the story.
“I would like to thank our solicitor, Fergal McGoldrick, and barrister, Gerald Simpson QC, for their hard work — and the Sunday Life team too.”
With many thanks to the: Sunday Life and EXCLUSIVE Christopher Woodhouse for the original publication.
Follow these links to find out more on this story: Suspected 'UVF dissident' Jamie Bryson warns republican dissidents over threats to loyalists
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