A MYSTERY witness, who had been giving evidence from behind a screen at Belfast Crown Court, yesterday told the judge he did not want to be screened and continued his evidence in full view of the public.
The man, who has already admitted he was a former UDA commander, told Mr Justice Kerr had never asked to be screened and said: "It doesn't matter to whether I am screened or not."
Referred to as Witness Four, is giving evidence in the trial of Stephen Larkin (25), a former paratrooper with the French Foreign Legion, who denies the attempted murder of convicted loyalist paramilitary leader, Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair, on March 6th, 1993.
Earlier this week, he identified Mr Larkin, from Jamaica Road, Ardoyne, as the man he had seen with a rifle in the getaway car seconds after the shooting in Berlin Street, off Belfast's Shankill Road.
He denied he had ever been involved in UFF activities, although he had been commander of the UDA in north Belfast.
Witness Four insisted he had always told police the man he had seen had dark swarthy skin, like an Italian, but agreed he had not corrected his statement when this was omitted. When it was suggested that he had been wrong in identifying Mr Larkin as the man with the rifle, he answered: "It was the ID parade I done it in."
He told the judge he had been able to pick out the defendant straight away. The hearing continues today.