Suspected UDA chief fails in bail application over inquiries ‘delay’
POLICE have met a deadline for completing investigations into a man accused of being second in command of a notorious UDA unit, the High Court heard yesterday.
All forensic, telecommunication and computer evidence on David ‘Dee’ Coleman has been gathered and submitted for prosecutors to assess.
A Crown lawyer said detectives worked “flat out” to comply with the 90-day target set by a judge.
She added: “Because of the extreme diligence, this case has been given these matters are all now completed.”
Coleman had mounted a fresh bid for bail based on claims of an investigative hold-up.
But adjourning his application, Mr Justice Colton said: “In my view there’s no delay.”
The 32-year-old accused, of Hopewell Crescent in Belfast, is charged with membership of a proscribed organisation on dates between June and October 2017.
He was arrested last October by detectives from the PSNI’s Paramilitary Crime Taskforce during an operation involving 14 searches at locations in the city, Holywood and Portadown.
Nearly 30 suspected members of the UDA’s C Company battalion based in west Belfast’s Lower Shankill area are under investigation, a previous court was told.
The unit is allegedly involved in extorting local businesses, punishment beatings, intimidation, drugs and loan sharking.
Coleman is accused of holding a position of second in command, according to the police and prosecution case.
Telephone evidence allegedly links him to the gathering of membership money for the outlawed organisation, a judge was told.
At the earlier hearing it was claimed messages attributed to him were signed off ‘QS’ — an apparent reference to the UDA’s Latin motto Quis Separabit.
Prosecution counsel also contended
David ‘Dee’ Coleman’s bail application was adjourned yesterday that he uses at least five different mobile phones, separately identified as Dee Coleman 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
She submitted that instructions on the initiation of new members were discovered at an address linked to him.
It was further alleged that a UDA long-service medal was found at the property too.
Coleman denies the charge against him, with his lawyers describing the case against him as “vague and speculative”.
They contend that no direct evidence of membership exists, and called on the prosecution to disclose any intelligence to support their allegations.
During a previous unsuccessful bail application police were given 90 days to complete their investigations.
Defence counsel Sean Mullan argued that Coleman had spent three months in custody without knowing whether he will face trial in the Crown Court.
However, Mr Justice Colton said he expected the prosecution to be able to confirm charges and jurisdiction at a review hearing listed for February 15.
He agreed to adjourn the bail application until the next day.