Mark Haddock (born Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1968) is a loyalist paramilitary leader in Northern Ireland, and British Special Branch informer, who has been named by various sources in connection with more than twenty-one murders. He is a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF),[1] and was that organisation's north Belfast commander before his arrest by police in 2005.
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Mark Haddock was born and raised in the Mount Vernon estate, a working-class housing development in north Belfast dominated by the influence of the UVF. He was educated at Lowwood Primary School (1973-1980), and Dunlambert Secondary School for Boys (1980-1985).
In October 2005, the Irish Labour TD Pat Rabbitte, using Dáil privilege, named Haddock as a British Special Branch agent and a serial killer whose victims include: Sharon McKenna in 1993, Catholic builders Gary Convie and Eamon Fox in 1994, the alleged informer Thomas Sheppard in 1996, Protestant clergyman Rev David J. Templeton in 1997, Billy Harbinson in 1997, Raymond McCord Jnr in 1997, former UDA commander Tommy English 2000, and David Greer in 2000.
Pub doorman Trevor Gowdy was attacked at a social club in Monkstown in December 2002. He was hit on the head and body with an iron bar, a hatchet and a bat, and suffered an "open" fractured skull and broken leg as well as various cuts and bruises. Police found him lying unconscious on the ground. Haddock was subsequently charged with the attempted murder of Mr Gowdy.
On Tuesday 30 May, 2006, while on bail for the attempted murder of Mr Gowdy, Haddock was shot six times while travelling in the Newtownabbey area of north Belfast.[2]
Ronald Trevor Bowe, 29, from Mount Vernon Gardens, Belfast, was arrested and charged for Haddock's attempted murder.[3] He was subsequently released on 22 November 2006 after Haddock indicated he did not wish to pursue a case against him.[4]
On Friday, 29 September, 2006, Haddock was cleared of Gowdy's attempted murder and found guilty of false imprisonment and "grievous bodily harm with intent". On Monday, 20 November, 2006, Haddock was jailed for ten years for his part in the attack.[1]
In January 2009 he was charged in connection with the murder of Tommy English.[5][6] Haddock was taken back into custody on 2 September 2011 as he prepared to face charges for the murder.[7]
On 21 July 2009 Haddock was arrested by officers from the Historical Enquiries Team. He was to be questioned about the murders of John Harbinson in May 1997, Gary Convie and Eamon Fox in May 1994 and Sharon McKenna in January 1993, as well as a number of assaults and a shooting.[8]
On 22 July 2009 Haddock was charged with the murder of a 39-year-old man in 1997. Haddock will appear in court in Belfast on 23 July 2009 accused of killing John Harbinson. The Protestant was beaten to death in the Mount Vernon estate where Haddock’s notorious gang wielded power.[9]