Law catches up with terror boss Shoukri

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Andre Shoukri showed little emotion during his sentencing

Shoukri reign of terror is over

Saturday, December 01, 2007

One-time UDA "brigadier" Andre Shoukri was last night beginning a nine-year jail sentence for blackmailing the managers of a north Belfast bar.

Shoukri (30) used his paramilitary muscle to extort thousands of pounds from the couple, known only as Witness A, a woman from England, and her Ulster-born partner Witness B.

Police said their crackdown on the scheme triggered the dismantling of the then-UDA leadership in north Belfast.

Shoukri pleaded guilty to 18 charges including blackmail, intimidation and acquiring and using criminal property.

Sentencing Shoukri at Belfast Crown Court yesterday, Mr Justice Treacy said there was little to mitigate in Shoukri's favour despite an early guilty plea, given "the grave nature of the offence" and a previous conviction.

The witnesses' ordeal began in June 2004 when Shoukri, whose UDA links were widely known, demanded £1,000 a week to allow the pub to stay open.

Belfast Crown Court heard a weekly sum of £200 was "reluctantly" agreed, beginning a long period of blackmail.

Gaming machines on the premises were regularly emptied by Shoukri's associate William John Boreland, of Sunningdale Gardens, also sentenced to nine years for his role in the racket.

The pair insisted on a payment of £1,000 after an event in the bar in December 2004 and another £1,000 shortly afterwards, as the pub had "a good Christmas".

The court heard that the pair's demands intensified, and by May 2005, the owners were finding it harder to make ends meet.

That month, Shoukri demanded rent money from witness A while her partner was told to go to another pub, where a third man, William John Harbinson, put a gun to his head. Witnesses were forced to hand over keys, accounts and cheque books of the bar along with £4,000. In summer 2004, Shoukri demanded Witness A put him on the bar's payroll to secure a mortgage on a house at Clare Heights.

She was instructed to speak to "Paddy" to arrange writing a letter giving an address for Shoukri so that he could get a mortage.

"Paddy" was the defendant, former police officer, financial advisor Ian Peter Craig (48) of Garland Hill, Manse Road in Belfast.

He admitted to aiding and abetting a money transfer (the mortgage) by deception and was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for three years.

Mr Justice Treacy said he was in a "distinct category" from his co-accused, with a " good solid family background", three children, a teacher wife and no relevant record.

"The Crown emphasised that the single charge against him was not a money laundering charge, that it related to one incident of involvement and that there was no evidence of any further involvement."

Mr Justice Treacy also emphasised Harbinson's only role was pointing a gun.

Shoukri betrayed little reaction to his sentence.

Boreland was also sentenced to nine years on four counts of blackmail, one of intimidation and possession of a firearm.

Terry William Harbinson (25) of Tynedale Green was sentenced to seven years on three counts of blackmail, intimidation and possession of a firearm.

There was a major police presence of 20 officers outside Court 12 but no disturbance as a large group of men left the public gallery after the sentencing.

Detective Inspector Mark Brown said police were " delighted" with the outcome: "These four men thought they were above the law but they were not." He praised the "strength and courage" of the witnesses - now living under witness protection in England.