Suspected UDA chief is granted bail for funeral
AN alleged UDA boss is banned from going near its power base during temporary prison release, a High Court judge ordered yesterday.
The prohibition was imposed on David ‘Dee’ Coleman as part of his compassionate overnight bail to attend a family funeral in Belfast.
Mr Justice Colton granted the 32-year-old’s bail application on strict conditions about his movements before returning to custody this afternoon.
The judge confirmed: “He’s excluded from the Shankill area (of Belfast).”
Coleman, from Hopewell Crescent in the city, is charged with membership of a proscribed organisation between June and October 2017.
He was arrested by detectives from the PSNI’s Paramilitary Crime Taskforce during an operation involving 14 searches at locations in Belfast, Holywood and Portadown.
Almost 30 suspected members of the UDA’s notorious C Company battalion based in the Lower Shankill area are under investigation, a previous court was told.
❝ Bail would be for the solemn purpose of providing support for his bereaved partner
The unit is allegedly involved in extorting from 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 (Who will separate us?).
Prosecutors also alleged that instructions on initiating new members and a UDA long-service medal were discovered at an address linked to him.
Coleman denies the charge against him, with his lawyers describing the case against their client as “vague and speculative”.
It was revealed yesterday that a preliminary enquiry to assess the evidence has now been listed for hearing at the end of March.
With no investigative holdup identified, Mr Justice Colton refused Coleman’s application for full bail.
Defence lawyers pressed ahead with a separate bid to secure his temporary release to attend the funeral of his wife’s grandfather.
Barrister Sean Mullan argued it was for a “solemn purpose” of providing support for his bereaved partner.
Coleman was to spend last night at an address in Co Down, attend the funeral service and then return to Maghaberry Prison later today, the court heard.
Opposing any release, prosecution counsel claimed Coleman could access computers and phones to contact others.
“He could engage in the type of behaviour that was ongoing and the basis for this particular charge,” she contended.
Although Coleman’s wife attended court for the hearing, issues were also raised about the current state of their relationship.
However, Mr Justice Colton ruled that the defendant could be released to attend the funeral once a £750 cash surety was lodged.