Andre Shoukri
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Andre Shoukri is a former member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) who has recently been unofficially 'exiled' from Northern Ireland by the leadership of the UDA.[1]
[edit] Background
Andre was born in 1978, the son of an Egyptian father and a Northern Irish mother. He is alleged to have taken over the north Belfast UDA leadership after Johnny Adair's expulsion. In July 2003 he received a two year prison sentence for unlawful possession of a gun.
[edit] Expulsion from UDA
The expulsion of several members of the UDA is believed to be a result of the organisation's claimed commitment to a move away from criminal activity, and as paving the way towards decommissioning. Had there not been mediation with Protestant clergyman Brian Madden and the Ulster Political Research Group, fears had been that there might have been another war of rivals such as that which resulted from similar cases with both Johnny Adair and Jim Gray.
Shoukri was involved in the events which lead up to the death of Irish tennis player Gareth Parker.
Shoukri and his brother Ihab are reputed to have been extremists within the UDA. Through pressure and negotiation with the Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG), and following a meeting with political representatives from the Republic of Ireland's government and the British government, things came to a tense conclusion when it was decided by the UDA that the Shoukri brothers and their family should leave Northern Ireland.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Vincent Kearney. "Why UDA expelled 'unlikely loyalists'". BBC News Page. Retrieved on 18 March 2007.
- ^ "Familiar faces waiting to greet Shoukri in Maghaberry prison". Irish News Page. Retrieved on 18 March 2007.
