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Shankill Butcher's cousin leads far-right protests in Dublin and Limerick

Sunday World

12 hours ago

Sunday World

Shankill Butcher's cousin leads far-right protests in Dublin and Limerick

Cousin of notorious Shankill Butcher seen at front of anti-immigration rallies in Dublin and Limerick A loyalist ex-prisoner and cousin of a notorious Shankill Butchers cut-throat killer is leading Irish far-right protests, the Sunday World can reveal. Convicted armed robber Mark Sinclair – a one-time UVF thug from the hardline loyalist Shankill area of Belfast – has been seen recently leading anti-immigrant protest rallies in Dublin and Limerick. But the Sunday World can reveal that Sinclair is a diehard loyalist who served 17 years in prison. He is also the cousin of Billy Moore, the feared knife-killer deputy to Shankill Butchers boss Lenny Murphy, whose gang roamed the city for years, picking up innocent Catholics before mutilating and murdering them. Mark Sinclair on the march Sinclair used his YouTube channel 'Freedom Dad' to voice strong support for the protests in the Republic and, by his own admission, he was welcomed with 'open arms' by the 'Limerick Says No' campaign last week. And by way of reassuring his concerned loyalist mates back in Belfast, Sinclair later said of his new-found friends: 'Not every one of them wants a united Ireland. I very rarely hear it.' But last night, Malachy Steenson – organiser of the Dublin protest – distanced himself from the former UVF man. He told the Sunday World: 'I have no connection to Sinclair. And I only learned he was at the protest, when I was told by the media. Now, you have to wonder how some of the southern journos even recognised him?' At anti-immigration protest in Limerick last weekend, the former UVF man told viewers on his YouTube channel: 'Times have changed. You don't hear so much about it these days. As you know, we're not giving anything up. The six counties belong to us. 'I don't know how long it's going to belong to Britain, but it will always belong to us, the Ulstermen and women in Northern Ireland. 'I'm trying to come across as honest and transparent. I'm not coming down here pretending to be this or that. I'm an Ulsterman and I'm proud to be an Ulsterman. 'But I like the Irish. I think it's an amazing part of the world. And not all of them want an all-Ireland. I very rarely hear it. Even 'Tiocfaidh ár lá – it's just Irish for 'our day will come'. Loyalist Mark Sinclair making a live YouTube broadcast at an anti-immigrant protest in Limerick last week . 'It's like 'slán go fóill a chara' – see you later my friend – it's just a foreign language. And I know some people won't like that. 'But it's just like France or Spanish. I wouldn't get too hung up on it,' said Sinclair. But he devoted most of his vitriol to immigrants and refugees who have come to Ireland. Said Sinclair. 'I'm going to talk with some friends to see how we can stop these men coming from Ireland into Northern Ireland. 'We need to stand up as men and women, Protestants and Catholics. We need to stop these men coming in from Ireland or England,' he said. He added: 'I'm Freedom Dad and God bless every single one of you.' But what Sinclair failed to disclose as he mingled with activists during his whistle-stop trip south of the border, was that he once shared a house with his close relative, the notorious Shankill Butcher Billy Moore. And it was from Moore's flat on the outskirts of Edinburgh that Sinclair was scooped by Scottish cops over a series of armed bank robberies on the west coast. Police confirmed a dozen people had been arrested during the raid on suspicion of assault, kidnap and extortion. Sinclair told the High Court in Ayr that he had been hired by the British Secret Service to spy on loyalist terrorists in Scotland. And he also said he was paid £50,000 each time he met his handler. Despite his claims, the trial judge sentenced him to 17 years in jail. Sinclair led a gang of Belfast-born desperadoes behind a spate of bank robberies on the west coast of Scotland, while the were based in Moore's flat on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Soon the flat became known to police as a 24 hours-a-day drugs and drink den. A victim of the Shankill Butchers Sinclair – who was in his mid-20s – established himself as the leader of an armed robbery outfit. And in an effort to throw the cops off their scent, Sinclair's robbery squad targeted Clydsdale Banks on the west coast, because rural banking halls had less security than normal. Sinclair wore a mask to cover his face and he brandished a hand gun during robberies at three banks, putting staff into a state of sheer panic. But after armed Scottish detectives raided Moore's flat, Sinclair was arrested along with two associates and charged with several bank robberies. Cutthroat killer William Moore And in October 2003 at the High Court in Ayr, he was found guilty of robbing banks in Troon and Stewarton in Ayrshire and Dalbeattie in Dumfries and Galloway. He was also found not guilty of robbing another two banks in Ayrshire. In the mid-1970s, the names Lenny Murphy and Billy Moore struck fear into the hearts of Catholics in north and west Belfast. When Murphy was jailed on other charges, Moore succeeded him as the main cut-throat killer in the UVF murder gang. At that time, the Shankill Butchers stalked the near empty streets of inner city Belfast, looking for victims. But despite being the leader, Lenny Murphy never stood trial for the Butchers Gang crimes. During a major criminal trial he was simply referred to as 'Mr. X' . But on November 16 1982 – shortly after his release from prison on arms charges – Murphy was ambushed and machine-gunned to death by IRA serial killer, Gerard 'Hucker' Moyna as he pulled up in a car outside his girlfriend's house in Glencairn. The IRA had received inside information on Murphy's movements from leading UDA extortionist Jimmy Craig, as part of an insurance policy to prevent the IRA from killing him. On May 17, 2009, Billy Moore died aged 60 of a suspected heart attack at his home in the loyalist Mount Vernon estate, off Belfast's Shore Road. A short time before, Moore had appeared in court charged with stealing scrap metal from the Belfast Harbour estate. But after Moore pleaded guilty to carrying out 11 of the 19 Shankill Butchers murders, Mr Justice Turlough O'Donnell told him: 'You Moore, pleaded guilty to 11 murders carried out in a manner so cruel and revolting, as to be beyond the comprehension of any normal human being.' And he pointedly added: 'I am satisfied that without you, many of the murders would not have been committed.' Addressing Moore and Robert 'Basher' Bates – another member of the Butcher gang who was involved in 14 murders – Judge O'Donnell told them: 'I see no reason whatever – apart from terminal illness – why either of you should ever be released.' During police interrogation, Moore collapsed in floods of tears and he asked detectives: 'Did I really do these things?' He received 11 life sentences, but as he was led from the dock he smiled and waved to supporters in the public gallery. Loyalist Mark Sinclair making a live YouTube broadcast at an anti-immigrant protest in Limerick last week News in 90 Seconds - June 22nd But Moore's swagger belied the fact that two years before, following his arrest, the knife killer had begged the police to get him a deal to serve his sentence outside Northern Ireland, in return for him telling them everything they needed to know about the Shankill Butchers gang. Moore confessed to committing 11 murders and involvement in another seven. And he also named all of his accomplices. But under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, Moore was released after spending 18 years behind bars.

Loyalist cousin of Shankill Butcher leading far-right protests in Dublin and Limerick

Sunday World

16 hours ago

Sunday World

Loyalist cousin of Shankill Butcher leading far-right protests in Dublin and Limerick

Cousin of notorious Shankill Butcher seen at front of anti-immigration rallies in Dublin and Limerick A loyalist ex-prisoner and cousin of a notorious Shankill Butchers cut-throat killer is leading Irish far-right protests, the Sunday World can reveal. Convicted armed robber Mark Sinclair – a one-time UVF thug from the hardline loyalist Shankill area of Belfast – has been seen recently leading anti-immigrant protest rallies in Dublin and Limerick. But the Sunday World can reveal that Sinclair is a diehard loyalist who served 17 years in prison. He is also the cousin of Billy Moore, the feared knife-killer deputy to Shankill Butchers boss Lenny Murphy, whose gang roamed the city for years, picking up innocent Catholics before mutilating and murdering them. Mark Sinclair on the march Sinclair used his YouTube channel 'Freedom Dad' to voice strong support for the protests in the Republic and, by his own admission, he was welcomed with 'open arms' by the 'Limerick Says No' campaign last week. And by way of reassuring his concerned loyalist mates back in Belfast, Sinclair later said of his new-found friends: 'Not every one of them wants a united Ireland. I very rarely hear it.' But last night, Malachy Steenson – organiser of the Dublin protest – distanced himself from the former UVF man. He told the Sunday World: 'I have no connection to Sinclair. And I only learned he was at the protest, when I was told by the media. Now, you have to wonder how some of the southern journos even recognised him?' At anti-immigration protest in Limerick last weekend, the former UVF man told viewers on his YouTube channel: 'Times have changed. You don't hear so much about it these days. As you know, we're not giving anything up. The six counties belong to us. 'I don't know how long it's going to belong to Britain, but it will always belong to us, the Ulstermen and women in Northern Ireland. 'I'm trying to come across as honest and transparent. I'm not coming down here pretending to be this or that. I'm an Ulsterman and I'm proud to be an Ulsterman. 'But I like the Irish. I think it's an amazing part of the world. And not all of them want an all-Ireland. I very rarely hear it. Even 'Tiocfaidh ár lá – it's just Irish for 'our day will come'. Loyalist Mark Sinclair making a live YouTube broadcast at an anti-immigrant protest in Limerick last week . 'It's like 'slán go fóill a chara' – see you later my friend – it's just a foreign language. And I know some people won't like that. 'But it's just like France or Spanish. I wouldn't get too hung up on it,' said Sinclair. But he devoted most of his vitriol to immigrants and refugees who have come to Ireland. Said Sinclair. 'I'm going to talk with some friends to see how we can stop these men coming from Ireland into Northern Ireland. 'We need to stand up as men and women, Protestants and Catholics. We need to stop these men coming in from Ireland or England,' he said. He added: 'I'm Freedom Dad and God bless every single one of you.' But what Sinclair failed to disclose as he mingled with activists during his whistle-stop trip south of the border, was that he once shared a house with his close relative, the notorious Shankill Butcher Billy Moore. And it was from Moore's flat on the outskirts of Edinburgh that Sinclair was scooped by Scottish cops over a series of armed bank robberies on the west coast. Police confirmed a dozen people had been arrested during the raid on suspicion of assault, kidnap and extortion. Sinclair told the High Court in Ayr that he had been hired by the British Secret Service to spy on loyalist terrorists in Scotland. And he also said he was paid £50,000 each time he met his handler. Despite his claims, the trial judge sentenced him to 17 years in jail. Sinclair led a gang of Belfast-born desperadoes behind a spate of bank robberies on the west coast of Scotland, while the were based in Moore's flat on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Soon the flat became known to police as a 24 hours-a-day drugs and drink den. A victim of the Shankill Butchers Sinclair – who was in his mid-20s – established himself as the leader of an armed robbery outfit. And in an effort to throw the cops off their scent, Sinclair's robbery squad targeted Clydsdale Banks on the west coast, because rural banking halls had less security than normal. Sinclair wore a mask to cover his face and he brandished a hand gun during robberies at three banks, putting staff into a state of sheer panic. But after armed Scottish detectives raided Moore's flat, Sinclair was arrested along with two associates and charged with several bank robberies. Cutthroat killer William Moore And in October 2003 at the High Court in Ayr, he was found guilty of robbing banks in Troon and Stewarton in Ayrshire and Dalbeattie in Dumfries and Galloway. He was also found not guilty of robbing another two banks in Ayrshire. In the mid-1970s, the names Lenny Murphy and Billy Moore struck fear into the hearts of Catholics in north and west Belfast. When Murphy was jailed on other charges, Moore succeeded him as the main cut-throat killer in the UVF murder gang. At that time, the Shankill Butchers stalked the near empty streets of inner city Belfast, looking for victims. But despite being the leader, Lenny Murphy never stood trial for the Butchers Gang crimes. During a major criminal trial he was simply referred to as 'Mr. X' . But on November 16 1982 – shortly after his release from prison on arms charges – Murphy was ambushed and machine-gunned to death by IRA serial killer, Gerard 'Hucker' Moyna as he pulled up in a car outside his girlfriend's house in Glencairn. The IRA had received inside information on Murphy's movements from leading UDA extortionist Jimmy Craig, as part of an insurance policy to prevent the IRA from killing him. On May 17, 2009, Billy Moore died aged 60 of a suspected heart attack at his home in the loyalist Mount Vernon estate, off Belfast's Shore Road. A short time before, Moore had appeared in court charged with stealing scrap metal from the Belfast Harbour estate. But after Moore pleaded guilty to carrying out 11 of the 19 Shankill Butchers murders, Mr Justice Turlough O'Donnell told him: 'You Moore, pleaded guilty to 11 murders carried out in a manner so cruel and revolting, as to be beyond the comprehension of any normal human being.' And he pointedly added: 'I am satisfied that without you, many of the murders would not have been committed.' Addressing Moore and Robert 'Basher' Bates – another member of the Butcher gang who was involved in 14 murders – Judge O'Donnell told them: 'I see no reason whatever – apart from terminal illness – why either of you should ever be released.' During police interrogation, Moore collapsed in floods of tears and he asked detectives: 'Did I really do these things?' He received 11 life sentences, but as he was led from the dock he smiled and waved to supporters in the public gallery. Loyalist Mark Sinclair making a live YouTube broadcast at an anti-immigrant protest in Limerick last week News in 90 Seconds - June 22nd But Moore's swagger belied the fact that two years before, following his arrest, the knife killer had begged the police to get him a deal to serve his sentence outside Northern Ireland, in return for him telling them everything they needed to know about the Shankill Butchers gang. Moore confessed to committing 11 murders and involvement in another seven. And he also named all of his accomplices. But under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, Moore was released after spending 18 years behind bars.

Donegal's newest TD: 'My house will not be standing in six years' time'

The Journal

a day ago

The Journal

Donegal's newest TD: 'My house will not be standing in six years' time'

DONEGAL'S NEWEST TD Charles Ward lives in a house that is crumbling. Towels are stuffed along the windows in his sitting room because every time it rains, it floods. The wallpaper in the same room is peeling from the walls, and in the corner where the walls meet the ceiling, damp and mould have led to the plaster collapsing in. Large cracks run along the walls of his children's bedroom. Ward, who was elected as a TD for the 100% Redress Party in last year's general election, tells The Journal that it was extremely difficult for him to publicly reveal the conditions of his home. In a video posted to the party's Facebook page ahead of the election, Ward walks through the house he built and shares with his wife Angela and their four children, showing the scale of the damage caused by defective blocks. The Journal / YouTube 'There are people up here who don't have a clue,' Ward says over a coffee in Leinster House. 'There are people up here who probably haven't ever looked at that video of my house and realised, 'Oh, my God, you live in conditions like this'. 'I live like that, but there's tens of thousands of other people that are living in the exact same conditions, and I have a responsibility to try and get this sorted. I am aware of that responsibility and I take it very seriously,' Ward says. For Ward and his family, the existing government scheme for people impacted by the defective blocks scandal does not work for their home. 'I was given the wrong engineering solution. 'For me, per square metre to rebuild my house, I'd have to come up with nearly €200,000. I'm nearly 50. That's not going to happen. With the majority of people in Donegal [impacted by defective blocks] that's not going to happen,' Ward says. In his view, the situation in Donegal is a humanitarian crisis that has largely been forgotten about by the rest of the country, with families left to deal with the stress and trauma on their own. 'My house will not be standing in six or seven years time. 'I have four children living in a house with bison slabs. It's unsafe, but I'm one of thousands that are in the exact same position,' he says. Advertisement It was because of this that Ward entered politics, something he never intended to do. Before becoming a TD, Ward was a healthcare assistant in a nursing home where he worked nights full-time so he could be a stay-at-home dad during the day. His entry into politics was fast, having been approached by 100% Redress just shortly before the local elections in 2024. Charles Ward (R) signing the Dáil register with clerk Peter Finnegan The party won four seats in that election, but Ward was unsuccessful and left 'deflated'. Despite this, he was chosen to be the party's sole candidate for the general election six months later and managed to take the fourth seat in the five-seater constituency with an impressive 6,862 first preference votes. Now, as leader of the 100% Redress Party, he is adjusting to life in Leinster House, where he intends to keep the pressure on the Government to improve the existing defective block scheme. 'I believe I will have a better scheme in place than what is currently in place at the moment,' he says. Asked what his other top priorities are for the people of Donegal, Ward says, next to housing, it is to make sure that the county gets a surgical hub in Letterkenny. Under current plans, Sligo University Hospital is the preferred option for a hub for the North West of the country, with no consideration being given to Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH). This is despite a significant campaign from staff in LUH, some of whom recently met with the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. 'I can understand there's a frustration going on between LUH and Sligo, where they both need surgical hubs. 'My take on it is, why do we not just go ahead and put two surgical hubs in. It will save the exchequer millions in the long run, it'll actually be one of the best investments that we do for the North West region, because the North West region in total is underutilised, and it's underfunded,' Ward says. Asked about the longer-term plan for his party, Ward says: 'In Donegal a year ago we had just come into existence, now we are the third biggest party in Donegal. We have to be there long-term.' 'I believe that we can do similarly again in other places at local and national level. 'The thing about the 100% Redress Party is we come from all forms and all demographics, we're inclusive. We're ordinary people who had to form because we felt we weren't getting any answers politically.' 'Unfortunately, the circumstances we find ourselves in is that we had to take this path, because I felt that the people in Donegal were getting a raw deal. I still feel we're getting a raw deal, but I have faith and I have hope, and that's the main thing.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal

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Shankill Butcher's cousin leads far-right protests in Dublin and Limerick

Loyalist cousin of Shankill Butcher leading far-right protests in Dublin and Limerick

Donegal's newest TD: 'My house will not be standing in six years' time'

How Lamborghini-driving, champagne swilling drug gang were snared by their OWN outrageous drug-filled music videos

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Shankill Butcher's cousin leads far-right protests in Dublin and Limerick

Loyalist cousin of Shankill Butcher leading far-right protests in Dublin and Limerick

Donegal's newest TD: 'My house will not be standing in six years' time'

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