LEADING Portadown loyalist, Billy Wright, claimed yesterday that while in police custody a policeman said to him "UVF murdering bastard". Wright was giving evidence at a special sitting of Craigavon Magistrate's court when he faced a number of charges.
He was fined £100 for disorderly behaviour at Seagoe Hotel car park at Portadown on the night of April 21st last year. In addition, he was given a three month prison sentence suspended for two years for assaulting Constable David McCausland and fined £150 for assaulting Constable Karl Greer.
A number of police witnesses had given evidence alleging Wright's involvement in the incidents at the car park and in the RUC station in Lurgan. They said Wright had been arrested in connection with two unpaid warrants amounting to £125.
Wright stated that on the evening of April 20th last year he had gone to the Sengoe Hotel and claimed that a man had "made a go for me". Wright alleged that he had been handcuffed with his hands behind his back and was abused by police who punched and kicked him.
He said that he was lifted into a police car and driven to Lurgan police station.
At the conclusion of the hearing the magistrate, Mr Ken Nixon, fixed bail of £250 for appeal purposes and granted legal aid.