Man charged with NI attempted murder

A 39-year-old man is due in court today charged with attempted murder in Belfast in 1997.

A 39-year-old man is due in court today charged with attempted murder in Belfast in 1997.

The man was arrested last night by the Historical Enquiries Team over the death of John Harbinson, who was beaten to death by a UVF gang in the Mount Vernon estate in May 1997.

He has been charged with the attempted murder of another man around the period when Mr Harbison was killed.

The PSNI said while the man had been charged with attempted murder, a report was also being submitted to the Public Prosecution Service in relation to the murder of Mr Harbinson and a number of other alleged paramilitary offences.

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He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates Court today.

A PSNI spokesman said the suspect was arrested as part of Operation Ballast, which was launched after former Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan’s investigation into allegations of collusion between RUC officers and the Mount Vernon unit of the UVF.

Two men have appeared in court recently charged with Mr Harbinson’s murder as a result of the HET investigation.

PA