Loyalists murder North Belfast nationalist
by Laura Friel
``Nationalist communities in Belfast fear a renewed loyalist
sectarian murder campaign following the weekend murder of Brian
Service, a Catholic community worker in North Belfast'', says Sinn
Fein councillor Mick Conlon. The 35 year old nationalist was
walking home along Alliance Avenue after spending an evening with
his brother when loyalist killers shot him several times in the
head and back. The fatally wounded man was rushed to the Mater
Hospital where he died a short time later. A green Honda car,
found close to the murder scene, was stolen from the Yorkgate
centre in the afternoon before the shooting.
The killing occurred close to where a Catholic workman was shot
dead by loyalists earlier this year. The murder of Brian Service
brings the death toll to 15 nationalists killed by loyalists this
year. Recent sectarian killings have been claimed by a group
calling itself the Red Hand Defenders.
Loyalist killers operating under the name of the Red Hand
Defenders are believed to be headed by a former close associate
of Billy Wright. The man appeared at a Portadown rally organised
by DUP MP Willie McCrea with Wright in September 1996. He was
also prominent during the Drumcree standoff earlier this year.
The Red Hand figure has a long history of involvement in loyalist
violence since the early 70s, associating with both the UDA and
the Red Hand Commandos.
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