FAMILIES forced from their homes by a renegade faction of the UDA in north Belfast are to lodge a complaint with the Police Ombudsman amid claims the terror gang leader was able to operate with impunity.
The leader of the rogue group is thought to have fled to Scotland after clashing with members of a rival UVF gang based in nearby Mount Vernon.
The Irish News understands that up to 12 families fled their homes in Tigers Bay following an 18-month reign of terror by the UDA splinter group. Cars were set on fire and homes attacked.
Several families in the Alliance and Glenbryn areas of Upper Ardoyne were also forced from their homes on the orders of the self-appointed 'brigadier'.
A former flag protester, the man was put in charge following the arrest of former brigadier John Bunting and ex-life prisoner John Howcroft in August 2014.
The pair were charged with an alleged gun attack on loyalist rivals Andre Shoukri and John Boreland. However, the charges were later dropped.
In recent days the man and several of his close allies have fled Northern Ireland following a sword attack on the son of a senior UVF man.
While the Tigers Bay faction had previously relied on the backing of the West Belfast UDA, they have since withdrawn their support.
Police have maintained a visible presence in Tigers Bay and the Shore Road areas since a show of strength by the Mount Vernon UVF on Monday.
After the The Irish News detailed the recent developments, victims have come forward to say they were forced out of their homes in the Tigers Bay area in the months after the 'brigadier' was put in charge.
Many were forced into temporary accommodation before being rehoused outside the area.
Attacks on homes and threats made to individuals were reported to the PSNI at the time.
One family said police called to their home on three occasions to say they had information that they were at risk before they were finally forced to leave.
A mother-of-two, who said she was too frightened to be identified, said she was among those forced to move after being warned her house would be petrol bombed.
"I'm from Tigers Bay, my family are from there and I had to leave my lovely home just because my partner refused to side with a bunch of gangsters," she said.
"Police were telling us they'd information we were going to be burnt out of our home. I was terrified my children would be hurt or killed. Three times we were warned before we eventually moved."
The woman said she wanted "to find out if the people threatening us were being protected" and intended to lodge a complaint today with the Police Ombudsman.
In a statement, Chief Inspector Robert Murdie said: "Following an increase in tensions in the Tigers Bay and Mount Vernon area since July 27, police have maintained a significant presence in this part of North Belfast".
"The Police Service of Northern Ireland takes its responsibility in Keeping People Safe seriously and we seek to prevent harm and protect our communities at all times," he said.
"I would like to reassure local people that we are committed to doing all that we can to keep everyone safe and diffuse these tensions.
"It is unacceptable to have a situation in which people are using violence to intimidate and cause fear and alarm.
"Police deal with all offences reported to them without impunity and where people are found to be breaking the law we will take all reasonable steps to bring them before the courts."
He asked anyone with information to contact police.
