LOYALIST Mark Harbinson is attempting to set up his own 'Orange Vanguard' to oppose the proposed Brexit trade deal that will see a border checks in Northern Ireland.
Harbinson, who was once a high-profile Orangeman, is attempting to garner support for an 'Ulster Day of Action'.
The 53-year-old has been calling on loyalists to join him on September 19, at a venue yet to be confirmed, to oppose Boris Johnson's Brexit deal which is seen by many loyalists as as betrayal.
Loyalists from various groups have been invited to meet with Harbinson to plan the formation of a new group calling itself the 'Orange Vanguard.'
Harbinson has sent messages to supporters through loyalist forums and social media pages in recent weeks saying "Keep the date free. If you don't want an Irish sea border you'll want to support this."
The controversial loyalist held an event close to his Stoneyford home on July 11, to gauge support for his plans.
He was shunned by many loyalists after being found guilty of child abuse, but retained a small hardcore of support despite the nature of his conviction.
In 2011 the Stoneyford-based loyalist was convicted of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl he met when he was a leading member of the Pride of the Village Flute Band in Stoneyford.
Because of time already spent in custody, he served two years.
At his trial the jury failed to reach a verdict on five other charges, including indecent assault.
He was acquitted of indecently assaulting a 12-year-old schoolboy.
Harbinson was originally caught by police with the schoolgirl in his car on 26 October 2009.
Police also found topless images of the child on his phone. Analysis of the handset showed more than 1,000 contacts between him and the young victim.
A once prominent member of the Orange Order, and former member of the UDR, he rose to prominence during the Drumcree dispute in Portadown.
Following his conviction he was expelled from the Orange Order.
In 2012, he failed to have the conviction overturned shouting "no surrender" in a courtroom outburst as the judgment was delivered.
A year later, he re-involved himself with the flute band despite a court order banning him from having involvement with voluntary groups or charitable organisations involving children.
A court heard that in May 2013, he telephoned and then wrote an email to the Parades Commission in protest at restrictions they had imposed on the flute band, signing it 'Mark Harbinson, Pride of the Village spokesman'.
The following year, he was handed a three-month suspended sentence after being found guilty of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.
In July 2018 he was acquitted of firearms charges after a three day trial.
A gun, silencer and ammunition were located wrapped in yellow dusters in a biscuit tin in a woodshed in one of the outbuildings at Harbinson's rural home in December 2015.
