FORMER SENIOR UDA figure in north Belfast Ihab Shoukri has been found dead in a house on the outskirts of the city.
Mr Shoukri (34), who was ousted from the organisation along with his brother André two years ago, is believed to have died from a drugs overdose. He was discovered dead in a house in Newtownabbey on Saturday night. The PSNI is not treating his death as suspicious.
He was released from prison during the summer after he was sentenced to 15 months in prison in June for his involvement in a loyalist paramilitary show of strength in a north Belfast bar.
He was released shortly after the sentence was imposed based on the amount of time he was detained while awaiting trial. His brother is serving nine years on a variety of charges, including blackmail and intimidation.
The Shoukris rose rapidly through UDA ranks in north Belfast, notwithstanding their untypical background. The brothers were sons of an Egyptian father who married a local woman.
Both were heavily involved in criminal activity such as drugs, extortion and racketeering which was tied in with their paramilitary activities. They were particularly engaged in drugs, making vast amounts of money in this area, according to security and local sources. About two years ago, the brothers fell foul of the UDA which is run by an inner council of six so-called brigadiers.
While it was common knowledge that the UDA was involved in various forms of criminality, all the publicity around the Shoukris was a source of embarrassment when some in the organisation were said to favour a move away from crime.
