In the days before the petrol-bomb murders of the three young Quinn brothers in July last year, five Catholic families living on the same predominantly Protestant Carnany estate received UVF death threats by post, Belfast Crown Court heard.
The UVF has been accused of being behind the murders of Richard, Mark and Jason Quinn by a Ballymoney salesman, Mr Garfield Gilmour (24), of Newhill Park, who denies the killings.
Yesterday, Chief Insp Terence Shevlin said five families received a UVF Christmas card with the warning "Get out now" and a letter containing a 9mm bullet.
The chief inspector also told Lord Justice McCollum that an uncle of the Quinn brothers, Mr Colm Quinn, had received death threats from loyalist paramilitaries dating back to October 1997.
He said three masked men armed with claw hammers, claiming to be from the UDA, gave Mr Quinn 48 hours to leave the country, and the following April a blast bomb was thrown into his home.
Mr Quinn said he received a number of death threats and once had to move to England. He also claimed that after the blast-bomb attack on his home he was confronted by Mr Gilmour and two others Mr Gilmour named to police as being behind the petrol-bombing which killed the Quinn boys. He claimed Mr Gilmour accused him of being a drug-dealer and said he would be "sorted out".
Under cross-examination from Mr Arthur Harvey QC, defending, Mr Quinn admitted he had an extensive criminal record. The last entry on the record, for disorderly behaviour, was in December 1997. He rejected suggestions that there was trouble between him and one of those named by Mr Gilmour as being responsible for the murder of his nephews.
The trial adjourned until today, when final submissions will be made, after which it is expected Lord Justice McCollum will reserve judgment on Mr Gilmour.