AN ALLEGED loyalist paramilitary link to the murder of a Chinese businessman 16 years ago was disclosed in the High Court in Belfast yesterday.
Prosecutors revealed police intelligence documents referring to a suspected UVF association among some of those accused of involvement in the killing of Simon Tang.
A judge was also shown photographs of new graffiti claiming police are targets because of the reopened investigation.
Details emerged as bail was granted to one of two men charged with murdering Mr Tang in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim.
George Robinson (36) of The Hollies, Carrickfergus, was released on cash sureties of £10,000 and ordered to keep out of the town.
Mr Tang, a 28-year-old married father of two, was beaten and robbed outside his takeaway business in June 1996. His watch and the night’s takings were stolen. He was taken to hospital but died from his injuries. No one has been convicted of his murder.
Mr Robinson and his co-accused, Paul Allen (38), of Drumhoy Drive, Carrickfergus, were arrested last month and deny any involvement. Two anonymous witnesses, identified only as Witness A and B, have given evidence against them, the court heard.
Granting bail for the accused to live at an address outside Carrick, Mr Justice Treacy imposed a further condition that he cannot leave Northern Ireland without giving police 24 hours notice.
He is also to be electronically tagged and curfewed.