An alleged former loyalist paramilitary leader remains in a critical condition in hospital today after being shot up to eight times near his home in north Belfast last night.
The Ulster Volunteer Force man was shot six times in the body after agreeing to rendezvous with associates in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim Haddock, 37, one of the most feared paramilitaries, was hoodwinked into believing he was safe to go to the meeting.
But as soon as he stepped out of his black Peugeot 206 car yesterday they opened fire at close range.
Haddock, who was on trial for attempted murder, was critically wounded in the attack.
"It looks like he came here for a meeting," one source said.
It was thought he would not survive, but his chances of recovering at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast are believed to be improving.
Even though the UVF are the main suspects for the attempted assassination, the organisation's chief political adviser tonight insisted it did not sanction the shooting.
David Ervine, leader of the Progressive Unionist Party which is linked to the UVF, said he had sought out assurances from authoritative figures and been told no authorisation was given.
He said: "Events will unfold that will make that clear. I believe it was opportunistic.
"This man clearly had a substantial number of enemies." The shooting has piled huge political pressure on the Ulster Unionist Party because it has controversially aligned itself with the PUP.
Sir Reg Empey, the UUP leader who brought Mr Ervine into his Assembly team two weeks ago in a bid to increase his party's political strength at the Stormont Parliament, insisted he was trying to stop such violence.
PA