Andre Shoukri

Andre Shoukri has been shown extraordinary leniency throughout his arrest and detention, being bailed home to his family almost immediately after his arrest and given his freedom until his court case was heard. In contrast Republicans are often remanded in prison for up to and beyond two years before sentencing and are effectively interned without trial.

Shoukri was acquitted of the more serious charges which a republican in similar circumstances would more than certainly have faced, and is now in the process of appealing the lenient and reduced sentence of two years after the additional six-year sentence was thrown out . It is expected that he will be freed tomorrow after spending negligible time in prison for the incident.

While he was at Maghaberry Prison Shoukri issued death threats to Republican prisoners and threatened the lives of any prisoner who assisted Republicans who were on protest for segregation from loyalist death squads. He has previously served two jail terms, one for malicious wounding, and one for extortion.
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The UDA's leading member in North Belfast, Andre Shoukri, is scheduled to receive a full judgement tomorrow (Friday) in his Court of Appeal case, the Andersonstown News can reveal.

Shoukri - a notorious loyalist thug - was arrested on September 21, 2002, in possession of a Walther pistol and thirty rounds of ammunition.

After a prolonged period of freedom on bail, Shoukri's trial took place at the end of June and he was sensationally acquitted of intent to endanger life.

Shoukri was, however, found guilty of possessing the gun and ammunition in suspicious circumstances and without a firearms certificate.

He was concurrently sentenced to six years imprisonment on the first count and two years imprisonment on the second count.

In a move that caused outrage in the nationalist community, Shoukri's appeal against both convictions was 'fast-tracked' and began on September 21 - just ten weeks after his conviction.

This meant that Shoukri was arrested, charged, remanded, bailed, convicted and had his appeal begun, all within twelve months of his original offence.
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Legal sources now expect Shoukri to receive a reduction in sentence for his final conviction of possessing a weapon without a firearms certificate.
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Leading Westland loyalist Andre Shoukri has had his conviction overturned for having a firearm in suspicious circumstances during the bitter feud between the UDA and Johnny Adair's C Coy.
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Appeal Court judges reserved judgement on another charge of possessing a firearm without a certificate which Shoukri is currently serving a two-year sentence for.

As the handcuffed loyalist left court yesterday he claimed "justice had been done".

Andre Shoukri, 25, a commander of the Ulster Defence Association in north Belfast, was captured by police during a major security operation in the city.

He is accused of possessing a semi-automatic pistol and 30 rounds of ammunition along with another man, 39-year-old William McCullough.

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The two UDA chiefs have forged close links since Shoukri was appointed as one of the six commanders who sit on that organisation`s ruling inner council just a matter of months ago.

As he was being led from the dock today he was greeted by a round of applause and cheers from his supporters, including Adair, the Ulster Freedom Fighters` leader who returned to the streets of Belfast earlier this year after being given a 16 year sentence for directing terrorism.

Shoukri, whose father is Egyptian, smiled and gave a thumbs up signal.

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A detective constable told the court that when charged Shoukri made no reply.

After he was accused McCullough said: "I was completely unaware of the firearm or ammunition."

The detective said he believed he could connect both men with the charge.

A lawyer for both of the accused then insisted that his clients should be presumed innocent until proven guilty by the courts.

He added: "We are concerned that there`s been an amount of speculation and adverse comment which could prejudicially affect their chances of a fair trial."

Courts - Northern Ireland Court Service

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The delegation consisted of Ulster Political Research Group members Tommy Kirkham, Frank McCoubrey and Frankie Gallagher and also included UDA member Andre Shoukri.

Yet high-profile loyalist, Andre Shoukri of the UDA was bailed after the PSNI claim to have found a gun in the waste band of his tracksuit bottoms.