The Ulster Volunteer Force has been blamed for causing the death of a former Presbyterian minister, Mr David Templeton in Ballyduff, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, last March.
Mr Templeton (43) died early on March 24th from injuries he received when he was beaten by three masked men at his home on February 7th.
He had resigned from the ministry following reports 18 months earlier that he had been stopped by customs and excise officials as he returned from a trip to Amsterdam carrying an obscene homosexual video.
An inquest hearing in Newtownabbey was told yesterday that rumours had been spread about Mr Templeton and he was warned by the RUC that he might be in danger.