Northern Ireland

Fourteen sentenced after investigation into East Belfast UVF drug dealing

The east Belfast leadership of the UVF, which is heavily linked to the drug trade and other criminality, has been ordered to step aside
The sentences follow searches by the Paramiltary Crime Task Force in east Belfast.
By Allan Preston

FOURTEEN people have been sentenced following an investigation into criminality linked to the East Belfast UVF.

Three received custodial sentences and 11 were given suspended sentences.

The defendants – 13 men and one women – were sentenced over the past five weeks at Belfast Crown Court.

Most of the charges relate to drugs criminality, with all but one sentenced for drug-related activities.

Other offences related to misconduct in public office.

Temporary Detective Superintendent Avine Kelly said the sentencings followed an investigations into the “largescale supply of drugs by the East Belfast UVF along with its associates involved in this drug-dealing network.”

The Paramilitary Crime Task Force had carried out initial searches of two properties in east Belfast in 2018.

Mobile phones seized in the investigation, including and examination of phone messages, lead to all 14 defendants being identified and - after further searches in March 2019 - arrested.

Supt Kelly said quantities of cocaine and cannabis had since been removed from the streets and nearly £2,500 from the pockets of paramilitaries. On Friday, the court also granted a forfeiture order in respect of the cash in favour of the police service.

A breakdown of the sentences is as follows;

* Mark Rainey (43) – Two years and nine months, serving half in custody.

Charged with possession of a Class A controlled drug, being concerned in the supply of a Class A controlled drug, intentionally encouraging or assisting another to commit misconduct in public office, and conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

* Glenn Rainey (37) – Two years and nine months, serving half in custody.

Charged with the supply of a Class A controlled drug and converting criminal property.

* Daniel Baine (37) – 18 months, serving half in custody.

Charged with the supply of a Class A controlled drug and converting criminal property.

* Darren Baine (34) – 15 months, suspended for three years.

Charged with the supply of a Class A controlled drug.

* Dean Bailie (29) – 15 months, suspended for three years.

Charged with supply of a Class A controlled drug. A sentence for possession of a Class B controlled drug will run concurrently.

* Maggie Hutton (51) – 15 months, suspended for three years.

Charged with the supply of a Class A controlled drug.

* Simon Mooney (45) – 15 months, suspended for three years.

Charged with the supply of a Class A drug. A sentence for possession of a Class A controlled drug will run concurrently.

* Jonathan Watson (37) – 15 months, suspended for three years.

Charged with the supply of a Class A controlled drug.

* Darren Flynn (42) – 15 months, suspended for three years.

Charged with supply of a Class A drug and possession of a Class B controlled drug.

* Neil Findlay (53) – 15 months, suspended for three years.

Charged with supply of a Class A drug. Richard Close (53) – 15 months, suspended for three years.

Charged with supply of a Class A drug.

* Samuel Taylor (39) – 12 months, suspended for three years.

Charged with offences relating to misconduct in public office.

* Andrew Crawford (32) – 15 months, suspended for two years.

Charged with the supply of a Class A controlled drug and possession of criminal property.

* Taylor Gray (28) – 15 months, suspended for two years.

Charged with supply of a Class A drug.

In addition, Serious Crime Prevention were also granted in relation to Mark Rainey, Glenn Rainey and Daniel Baine.

This takes effect from the dates of their release from prison and will remain in force for five years.

Supt Kelly continued: “Working with partners on the Paramilitary Crime Task Force, we remain committed to tackling and disrupting the criminal activities of paramilitary groups.

“These people use a regime of fear and violence to exercise their control over the most vulnerable members of our communities. Through criminal activities such as drug dealing, they have one aim only, and that’s to line their own pockets. They don’t care about the resultant devastation and those lives ruined, even lost, along the way.”

The Paramilitary Crime Task Force is a multi-agency task force - consisting of the PSNI, National Crime Agency and HM Revenue & Customs - set up to protect communities from paramilitarism in Northern Ireland.

Supt Kelly said the task force also relied on the support of communities, and took the opportunity to appeal to anyone with information to speak out.

Police can be contacted on 101, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.