Shoukri brothers
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Andre was born in 1977, the son of a Coptic Christian Egyptian father and a Northern Irish mother.[1][2] He was alleged to have taken over the north Belfast UDA leadership. In July 2003 he received a two-year prison sentence for unlawful possession of a gun.
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[edit] Gareth Parker
In June 1996, Andre Shoukri, then 19, was charged with manslaughter after he was involved in a fight outside a north Belfast pub, in which he assaulted a Catholic tennis player, Gareth Parker. Parker later died from his injuries. Shoukri was acquitted of manslaughter but received a two-year sentence[3] after pleading guilty to unlawful and malicious wounding.[4] When interviewed in 2002 by The Irish News, Ihab Shoukri said he had no problem killing Catholics, continuing that it had no effect on him.[5]
[edit] Expulsion from UDA
The other five brigadiers in the UDA leadership decided to expel Andre Shoukri, his brother Ihab, and another associate in June 2006.[3] The expulsion of several members of the UDA is believed to be a result of the organisation's stated commitment to a move away from criminal activity, and as paving the way towards decommissioning. Fears had been that there might have been another war of rivals such as that which resulted from similar cases with both Johnny Adair and Jim Gray.
Shoukri and his brother, Ihab, were reputed to have been extremists within the UDA.[citation needed] Through pressure and negotiation with the Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG), and following a meeting with political representatives from the Republic of Ireland's government and the British government, things came to a tense conclusion when it was decided by the UDA that the Shoukri brothers and their family should leave Northern Ireland.[1]
[edit] Shoukri sentenced to nine years in prison
On Friday 30 November 2007 Andre Shoukri was sentenced to nine years in prison at Belfast Crown Court.[6] He was jailed on a total of eighteen charges including the blackmailing of managers of a north Belfast bar beginning in June 2004. Other charges included intimidation and acquiring and using criminal property. He was sentenced along with four other men, namely William John Boreland (sentenced to nine years on four counts of blackmail, one of intimidation and possession of a firearm); William John Harbinson (sentenced to seven years on three counts of blackmail, intimidation and possession of a firearm); Ian Peter Craig (who admitted to aiding and abetting a money transfer by deception and was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for three years) and Terry William Harbinson (sentenced to seven years on three counts of blackmail, intimidation and possession of a firearm). A large police presence of twenty officers was placed outside Court 12 where the case was being heard, however no disturbances occurred.[7]
[edit] Ihab Shoukri's death
On the night of 22 November 2008 a body believed by the police to be that of Ihab Shoukri was found in Newtownabbey. Police stated that the man's death was not suspicious and indicated belief that he died of a drugs overdose.[8]
On the day of Shoukri's funeral on 27 November 2008, there were several bomb alerts including one on Ballysillan Road where he was due to be buried. They were all found to be hoaxes.
[edit] References
- ^ a b ""Familiar faces waiting to greet Shoukri in Maghaberry prison"". Irish News Page. http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/irish_news/arts2003/jul2_familiar_faces.php. Retrieved 18 March 2007.
- ^ ""How bling lost its lustre for flash corner boy thug"". Belfast Telegraph Page. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article3213514.ece. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
- ^ a b Vincent Kearney (21 June 2006). ""Why UDA expelled 'unlikely loyalists'"". BBC News Page. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/5101420.stm. Retrieved 18 March 2007.
- ^ Áine Ní Bhriain. ""Shoukri gets six years"". Republican News. http://republican-news.org/archive/2003/July10/11shou.html. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Seosamh deBarra. ""Meeting the loyalist who had no problem killing Catholics"". Irish News. http://www.irishnews.com/articles/540/5860/2008/11/24/603711_364466970522Meetingth.html. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
- ^ ""Shoukri reign of terror is over"". Belfast Telegraph Page. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article3213496.ece. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
- ^ ""Law catches up with terror boss Shoukri "". Belfast Telegraph Page. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/article3213497.ece. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
- ^ "Senior loyalist Ihab Shoukri dies". BBC News. 23 November 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7744571.stm. Retrieved 23 November 2008.
