Man in court over Ulster killings

A MAN, aged 24, appeared at a special court in Northern Ireland last night charged with five murders - all of which have been claimed by the banned Ulster Volunteer Force, writes Jason Bennetto.

Vicky Ahitty, from Portadown, Co Armagh, is accused of murdering Desmond Rogers, Fergus Magee and John Lavery on 14 November 1991, and murdering Kevin and John McKearney at their butcher's shop in Moy, Co Tyrone, on 3 January 1992.

He is also accused of withholding information knowing that Charles and Teresa Fox had been murdered. Mr and Mrs Fox, also from Moy, were related to the McKearneys.

Mr Ahitty is in addition charged with possessing ammunition and a rifle, and making a flat available in connection with acts of terrorism. The accused was remanded in custody by the court in Craigavon, Co Armagh to Crumlin Road magistrates' court on 6 November.

The court was told by an RUC detective inspector that Mr Ahitty had made no reply in answer to the nine charges.

A leading loyalist escaped an IRA murder attempt in Portadown when a 1lb Semtex car bomb was defused by the army last Friday night.