Man charged with samurai sword murder of senior loyalist

A 46-year-old man has been charged with the sword murder of a senior loyalist paramilitary.

Veteran Ulster Defence Association (UDA) chief Colin "Bap" Lindsay, 47, was hacked to death in a brutal attack in the living room of his own house in Belfast's Belvoir estate on Wednesday night.

Another man, 52-year-old Stanley Wightman, sustained severe injuries in the incident in the Kirkistown Walk property and remains in a critical condition in hospital.

The accused, Albert Armstrong, is charged with murder and attempted murder.

The incident took place at a house in Kirkistown Walk in the loyalist Belvoir housing estate in south Belfast on Wednesday night. It is believed the three men had been drinking at Mr Lindsay’s home and the victim was killed with his own samurai sword.

Police took the unusual step of naming Armstrong yesterday in a bid to generate information from the public about what happened.

He is due to appear at Newtownards Magistrates’ Court later today.

The murder raised immediate concern coming as it did just ahead of the Eleventh Night and Twelfth of July Orange Order and loyalist celebrations when cross community tensions are high in Northern Ireland.

PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Richard Campbell said the samurai sword was recovered from Mr Armstrong's car. He said the attack was "extremely violent".

“This was a very brutal attack and obviously very unpleasant for the officers and anyone else who had to see it,” he said.

Additional reporting from PA