A loyalist prisoner was yesterday charged with a feud murder — allegedly committed at a time when he was a paid police informer.

Mark Haddock (40) will appear in court today accused of the murder of Tommy English, a member of the UDA, in October 2000.

English was gunned down in north Belfast in front of his wife and children during a vicious UVF-UDA feud. He was a former Stormont talks delegate for the UDA-linked Ulster Democratic Party.

Haddock was charged by officers belonging to the police's Historical Enquiries Team, a special unit set up to investigate unsolved murders during the Troubles.

He is scheduled to appear at Belfast Magistrates Court today.

Haddock featured in a highly-publicised 2007 report by Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan.

Mrs O’Loan’s report — which referred to Haddock only as Informant 1 — said he had been recruited as an RUC Special Branch informer in 1991.

It revealed he had received payments from police totalling at least £79,840 over a 12 year period from 1991 to 2003.

The £79,840 figure included retainers adding up to £34,140, incentive payments totalling £42,000 and welfare payments, the Ombudsman stated.

Haddock, a onetime leading figure in the UVF, is from the Mount Vernon estate in north Belfast. He was arrested at Maghaberry Prison near Lisburn yesterday and taken to a police detention centre for questioning.

Haddock survived a loyalist murder attempt in 2006.

He has been seeking a media blackout on his new identity following his forthcoming release date, as he claims his life is still at risk. He also wants to have his name changed by deed poll.

Last month two brothers — David Stewart (38) and Robert Stewart (34) — from Newtownabbey, north Belfast pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting Mr English's murder. Both also admitted membership of the UVF.