Mark Haddock - Mount Vernon UVF

Mount Vernon UVF

As leader of the UVF in Mount Vernon Haddock presided over one of the organisations most active units in the latter stages of the Troubles. However, although he was frequently discussed in the Sunday World by Martin O'Hagan he was never referred to by name until 20 August 2003 when his pictured appeared on the front cover of the Belfast Telegraph alongside a story identifying him as the head of the Mount Vernon UVF. In October 2005, the Irish Labour TD Pat Rabbitte, using Dáil privilege, named Haddock as an RUC Special Branch agent and as responsible for the murders of Sharon McKenna in 1993, Catholic builders Gary Convie and Eamon Fox in 1994, the alleged informer Thomas Sheppard in 1996, Protestant clergyman Rev David J. Templeton in 1997, Billy Harbinson in 1997, Raymond McCord Jnr in 1997, former UDA commander Tommy English in 2000, and David Greer in 2000. The claim that Haddock was an informer with a Special Branch "handler" was also made by the Sunday World, campaigner Raymond McCord, the Belfast Telegraph, the Independent and Ulster Television.