Man appears in court over loyalist feud murder
A 23-year-old man appeared in court in Belfast today charged with a murder linked to a bitter loyalist feud.
Wayne Stephen Dowie, whose address was given as c/o Magilligan Prison in Co Derry, appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court charged with murdering Jonathan Stewart, 22, at a party in Belfast two days after last Christmas.
Mr Stewart was shot up to six times by a masked assassin who forced his way into the party, singled out his victim in the kitchen of a house in the city’s Manor Street and opened fire.
The victim was the nephew of a well-known loyalist but was not thought to have any involvement with any paramilitary organisation.
Armed police stood guard in and around the court during Dowie’s brief appearance.
He spoke only to confirm he understood the charge.
A PSNI detective inspector told the court that when he charged the accused yesterday he replied “no”.
He said he believed he could connect Dowie to the murder and he was remanded in custody until August 22.
The bitter loyalist feud ultimately claimed five lives and resulted in Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair being returned to prison, and his wife and members of his notorious UDA "C" Company being forced by the UDA leadership to flee Northern Ireland and set up homes in Britain.
Security and loyalist sources have indicated the murder of Mr Stewart was carried out by a member of the Adair faction.
