THERE are fears that a bitter feud, which has cost millions to police and cost two lives, could re-ignite following the acquittal of three men over the murder of loyalist leader Geordie Gilmore.
There has been a heavy police presence in Carrickfergus since David McMaw (30), his brother Darren (34) and Brian McClean (37) were found not guilty of murdering the former UDA commander and attempting to kill two passengers in his car.
Tensions have been high in Carrickfergus since 2016, after what began as a row between a number of women quickly escalated into an all-out feud.
In July that year more than 100 men, some masked, marched on Gilmore's home.
In 2017 a court was told the feud between rival factions linked to the south-east Antrim UDA had cost more than £5m to police.
That figure is thought to have almost doubled since then, despite a failure to prosecute for many of feud-related incidents.
George Gilmore (44) was shot dead in Carrickfergus in March 2017.
Two months later 35-year-old Colin Horner was murdered in front of horrified shoppers and his three-year-old son in Bangor.
An associate of Gilmore, he had left Carrickfergus amid threats from rival members of the south-east Antrim UDA.
Four Co Down men were jailed for their involvement in the killing.
Gilmore's UDA faction had dominated Carrickfergus for many years, with local people living in fear of the dissident loyalist gang.
While he fell out of favour with the loyalist group he retained a small group of supporters who refused to leave the town despite being under death threat.
With the conclusion of the trial last week, Gilmore's gang have boasted that they have retained weapons and will seek revenge.
East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson said there has been a "change in atmosphere" in the town.
"While the trial was going on there was a feeling that a 'tight lid' was being kept on things... now that it's over there is a fear that tensions might be raised again. It is not good," he said.
"There is also a great fear among ordinary people in the community who have no links to this feud that this is not the end of it."
Mr Dickson said he will be meeting with police this week to seek assurances that its major operation in Carrickfergus will continue.
DUP councillor Billy Ashe also said he had remained in close contact with police.
"I would make a plea that Carrick doesn't regress back to the situation that caused this death in the first place," he said.
