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Ihab Shoukri: From brigadier to outcast... the loyalist thug who worshipped money

Monday, 24 November 2008

Ihab Shoukri

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Ihab Shoukri was just one of many to end up on the wrong side of the loyalist lines.

He fits into that category alongside Johnny Adair, Jim Gray, John White, Billy Wright, Andre Shoukri, Mark Haddock and so many others like them.

All climbed to high rank in the various loyalist organisations, and all ended up on the losing side in different feuds and battles.

It is the way of the loyalist world — a place of competing individuals, organisations, interests and egos.

Some are dead, some in jail and others in exile.

Ihab Shoukri, like his brother Andre, once held the rank of “brigadier”, the highest position in the UDA.

And like others of that position, including Adair and Gray, they were ousted in the loyalist infighting of the post-ceasefire years.

Andre Shoukri is in jail and his brother Ihab is now dead.

What was his war, his mission? He never fought the IRA or defended Ulster.

In the peace process years, I have defined the battle within loyalism as a fight for its destiny, a fight between “cause” and “criminal” loyalists.

Ihab Shoukri and his brother Andre fitted into that latter category. Their stories are told in the words of crime, drugs, extortion, bullying. They preyed on their communities, living on money that was never earned.

“He (Ihab Shoukri) was viewed in loyalism as a criminal, nothing more than a criminal,” one loyalist commented.

“Money was his God,” he added, comparing him to the murdered east Belfast UDA leader Jim Gray.

His name was “equally bad”, the source said.

And that is how you fall in that loyalist world — a “brigadier” one

day, a criminal and outcast the next.

There are those who would try to tell you that there is a “good UDA” and a “bad UDA”.

But those in the security and intelligence worlds who read the organisation best know that criminal activity, at different levels, can still be found throughout that organisation and in its six so-called brigade areas.

Gray and Shoukri were more obvious than some of the others — less discreet; their lives lived in the newspaper headlines.

Inside the UDA in Belfast, Adair is said to have “elevated” the Shoukris.

Of that three one is dead, one in prison and the other hiding in Scotland — forced out of Belfast’s Shankill Road.

For all the rank they once held, that is how they will be remembered, as men who ended up on different losing sides, just some of the loyalist outcasts.

Comments

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101 Comments

I am sick of people saying ihab died of a drug overdose,he took a fit in his sleep ,and at the end of the day this young man is dead,let him rest in peace,and let his family and friends mourn him because he is missed big time by plenty of people,and the drug world is worse than it ever was,

Posted by family friend | 28.11.08, 22:42 GMT

I agree with a lot of the comments on this page.
He did nothing for the loyalist cause. They thought that they were better than anyone else and although some people are grieving for him he is no great loss to the loyalist community.
Being a mother i do have sympathy for his mother as it must be the worst thing to bury one of your children.
However think of Mrs McCullough on the shankill road.
Ihab was a good looking man but he wasted his life.

Posted by brenda | 27.11.08, 15:30 GMT

A mother has lost her son. Katie is a lovely christian lady, let her grieve in peace. I hope Andre doesnt end up the same way. I grew up with the Shoukri's and it is sad to see how these good looking guys have turned out. There is terrible evil in this world, lets just hope he rests in peace now.

Posted by A non | 27.11.08, 11:58 GMT

Why is this still such a big topic? Ihab was a terror to the community he lived in and preyed on the vulnerable. He made his choice a long time ago and has paid the price for it, he derseved his faith.

4 PSNI officers were burried this week for their community work, shouldn't we be more supportative of those good people, than that of a brutal man who terrorised people in the community and ruined so many lives over his greed for money.
.........its time to forget about this and concentrate on more important things.

Posted by Michelle | 27.11.08, 11:56 GMT

i feel ashamed of myself for being part of this foolish country. not only does it produces people like the Shoukri's, it is also responsible for the people who send their condolences. People who use collections of letters and numbers like 'm8'. This is crazy,he was a gangster. nothing more or less. he shouldnt be idolised at all, its a horrible profession.

Posted by Che | 27.11.08, 11:33 GMT

thank goodness after today we will never have to listen to this mans name again. Shoukri, never heard of him

Posted by highlandqueen newtownabbey | 27.11.08, 11:32 GMT

i would just like to say i think you lot are sick! There is a family sitting grieving and you are writing pure rubbish for them all to read. I only met Ihab a few times and he always had a smile on his face for anyone he met, i know his girlfriend and what she is going through now no-one deserves, only she knows the true story! Most of you are going by what has been written in the papers but please ask yourself is everything you read iin the paper true?
my thoughts go out to his loving girlfriend, his beautiful step kids and his adoring family, rest in peace ihab! xx

Posted by trish | 27.11.08, 07:46 GMT

Lets hope that this is a lesson to not only his brother but to all others just like him.

Posted by a shankill mother | 27.11.08, 06:16 GMT

Rest in peace Ihab everyone has there own points of veiw,you will be sadly missed,and at the end of the day there is far worse out there now so let him rest now and leave his family alone .

Posted by family friend | 27.11.08, 05:29 GMT

Please have a thought for the mother of this man who has to bury him tomorrow. She is kind, christian lady who is a pillar of her community.

Posted by gaz | 26.11.08, 20:43 GMT

This young man, did not start the Drug trade within the UDA. It was there a long time before he came along.

Posted by UNIONCRUISER | 26.11.08, 19:46 GMT

wil be sadly missed xxxx

Posted by kylie | 26.11.08, 19:00 GMT

So what if he was nice at school he was a child for gods sake an innocent. He grew into a monster, he didn't care what misery he inflicted on other people he only thought of himself. I have no sympathy at all for paramilitaries.

Posted by highlandqueen newtownabbey | 26.11.08, 18:32 GMT

One man's terrorist drug-dealing violent thug is another man's superhero.

Posted by Yazzer | 26.11.08, 18:15 GMT

As someone who has suffered the death of a sibling i can think of nothing more unbearable than not being given the opportunity to say goodbye. The family are extremely close and despite what has gone on in the past deserve the chance to grieve without the condemnation of outsiders. We often talk of how this now peaceful society will move forward but if we cannot show compassion and understanding at times of such sorrow for famillies then how can we ever find peace.

Posted by anon | 26.11.08, 17:41 GMT

i was very sadden to hear the news of ihad's sudden death, i wish to offer my deepest sympathy to katie, yuk and andre.. i have known all the shoukri's from childhood growing up in ballysillan and have remained very close friends since then.. ihab will be sadly missed.
rest in peace
junior antrim/ballysillan

Posted by william | 26.11.08, 17:19 GMT

everyone is entitled to thier points of veiw but some respect to the famiy i feel is little to ask. ihab was to the many true friends a gentleman and a caring person as are his two brothers alike.
rip mate

Posted by a m8 | 26.11.08, 16:27 GMT

It was HIS choice to get involved in what he chose to do, mainly causing misery to people and businesses to line his pocket, through protection money and drugs, good riddance.

Posted by Richard | 26.11.08, 15:38 GMT

had a choice to do something decent with his life. instead chose drug dealing , bullying and distroying young peoples lives selling his poison good riddance.

Posted by jon | 26.11.08, 15:33 GMT

Some of the comments on here were written by people that find it hard enough to talk properly let alone type. Why would you pay respects to someone you don't respect?

Posted by Neill C | 26.11.08, 14:29 GMT