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Terror gangster Shoukri died watching TV
Monday, 24 November 2008
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A post mortem examination is due to be carried out today on the body of loyalist terror boss Ihab Shoukri.
Police are understood to be investigating a drugs link after the ousted UDA brigadier collapsed while watching the Ricky Hatton boxing match at a house in the Grainon Way area of Newtownabbey on Saturday night.
Last night a spokeswoman for the PSNI confirmed they were investigating the sudden death of a 34-year-old man but stressed there were no suspicious circumstances.
Rumours circulating in the Rathcoole estate, where Shoukri had been living since his release from jail, suggest he may have suffered some sort of seizure – possibly an epileptic fit.
In 2004, Ihab Shoukri collapsed in a bookmaker’s shop while out on bail for charges of membership of the UFF and UDA. He suffered a fractured cheek and required treatment at hospital. In an appeal for a change to his bail conditions that would allow him to live with his girlfriend’s mother, Shoukri’s lawyer told Belfast High court there were fears he could suffer from “epilepsy of something of that nature”. The appeal was refused but the judge said Shoukri could make arrangements for someone to move into his Bangor home.
Originally from the Westland estate in north Belfast, Ihab Shoukri was one of three boys born to an Egyptian father who married a local woman.
In June he was jailed for 15 months after pleading guilty to membership of the UDA. He was among five men arrested when police stormed a paramilitary show of strength dress rehearsal at the Alexandra Bar in March 2006.
However there was public outrage when the infamous loyalist who played a prominent role in a vicious terrorist campaign and racketeering operation was released just weeks into the sentence because of the length of time spent on remand.
Nationalist politicians were critical of the sentencing after the judge in the case said Shoukri only escaped a longer jail term because of progress in the peace process.
Ihab and his brother Andre were expelled from the UDA two years ago after establishing a breakaway faction which was involved in widespread criminality including drug dealing in south east Antrim.
Andre Shoukri (30) first became known after being charged with the manslaughter of a young tennis star in Belfast in 1996.
He punched Gareth Parker – a Catholic – who fell on the road and was hit by a car. Shoukri pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of assault and received an eight-month jail sentence.
He became known as the ‘bookies brigadier’ after he squandered more than £1m of the UDA’s funds gambling on horses.
Last November Ihab Shoukri took over leadership of the group when his brother was jailed for nine years for blackmail and intimidation and money laundering.
In August he was back in court in Belfast after pleading guilty to a string of motoring offenses including driving while disqualified and having no insurance.
A police source once said of the gang led by the Shoukris: “They thought they were above the law... You could say they thought they were untouchable.”
Journalist Jim McDowell, whose book ‘Mummy’s Boys’ documents the life and crimes of both brothers, described the Shoukris as “para-mafia gangsters”.
“The relationship between myself and the Shoukris is well documented. It was fairly antagonistic relationship and I have received a number of threats which the police have brought to my home that I believe them to have come from the Shoukris or their mob. But I am not gloating over anybody death.
“Both Andre and Ihab were already ostracised from the UDA. Andre is behind bars and is therefore ineffective even in aligning himself with the breakaway east Antrim faction that they established.
“Drugs were endemic and if it was a drugs overdose that took the life of Ihab Shourki then he died from his own excess.”
Baroness May Blood, who has spent decades working in loyalist communities, said: “There possibly could be a turf war out of it (Ihab’s death). I hope it does not lead to violence in our streets.”
KEY DATES
March 2006 Ihab Shoukri arrested in police raid on north Belfast bar. UDA had been preparing for a show-of-strength.
June 2006 UDA Inner Council leadership expels Shoukri brothers and associate Alan McClean from paramilitary organisation. Statement reads: “It is our duty as defenders of the Protestant people whom we serve to create safer communities that are drug and crime free and where our people can live without fear of oppression.”
August 2006 UDA force Shoukri associates including McClean to flee Belfast
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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
101 Comments