And when Nuala O'Loan publishes her explosive report into the brutal killing of the campaigning dad's son, the north Belfast man knows he will finally be vindicated.

Shortly after the RAF radio operator's killing on November 9, 1997, Mr McCord claimed that the Mount Vernon UVF, which was riddled with informers, was responsible for battering his son to death.

Since then, the dad-of-three has been subjected to a series of death threats, been ignored by senior unionist politicians and branded a liar.

Although Mr McCord welcomes the findings of Mrs O'Loan's report, he has vowed to continue his campaign to face his son's killers in court.

He said: "Everything I have been saying for the last nine years or so has been true and Mrs O'Loan's report confirms this.

"The biggest mistake the UVF ever made was killing my son. They can no longer say I was an aggrieved father or a 'Walter Mitty'-type character."

He added: "Why are the people who killed my son still members of the UVF? I was told by the leadership that there would be no cover-up but they have never produced the results of their so-called 'inquiry'.

"I know the chief-of-staff of the UVF is also a police informer and the reason they didn't do anything about Haddock is because his handler told him not to.

"It was informer replacing informer in the UVF leadership and the other man who covered Haddock's back was his brigadier who was based in Monkstown, but was later stood down and replaced by yet another informer.

"I haven't forgot the people who murdered my son - and I will not be going away."

Mr McCord also said the highest levels of the Government and the police were aware of the crimes being committed by Haddock and his gang.

He added: "If it is proven that senior police officers and senior Government officials were aware of the crimes being committed by Haddock and his men then they should be brought before the courts.

"My family was left isolated after my son's killing and the only person I can thank for standing by me is Lady Sylvia Hermon.

"This wasn't just about the police making mistakes on one or two murders.

"This was the police turning a blind eye to their agents killing innocent people.

"I was never afraid to take on the UVF and people like Mark Haddock.

"I know, effectively, it was the security forces who were controlling the UVF at the highest level."

The murder victim's brother, Gareth, spoke of his family's pain over the last nine years.

"Will someone explain to me why people in the PUP never helped us get justice?

"Why they never called for decommissioning or for the killers of my brother to be expelled from the organisation?

"I would also like to know why it took almost a year for the Police Ombudsman to get files on Haddock?

"There was police intelligence showing who was doing the murders and it was never acted upon. We have known all along we would be vindicated.

"I would also like to know if rank and file UVF members will now come forward if they know their commanders have been involved in collusion."