Jimmy Crockard, killer UVF, si consegna a Maghaberry

UVF supergrass gives himself up

A former UVF supergrass and convicted killer has returned to Northern Ireland to give himself up at the gates of Maghaberry prison.

Jimmy Crockard, who is wanted for questioning about the murder of a 92-year-old pensioner in 2007, returned voluntarily to Northern Ireland from Spain.

UTV reporter Ivan Little drove the fugitive to the jail after arranging to meet him in Newry.

Last week, Security Minster Paul Goggins revoked his life sentence license and ordered him back to jail, claiming he was an increased risk to society.

The PSNI want to interview Crockard about the murder of Charlie Stead at his home in Cambera Park, Dundonald in February 2007.

The Royal Navy veteran was beaten to death but Crockard has consistently denied having anything to do with the killing.

“Obviously I have nothing to do with it but the Police seem to think I have some sort of connection with it and therefore I have to come back and get that sorted out,” said Mr Crockard.

“It is too serious a matter to leave it the way it is at the moment. I could of stayed in Spain, I had a nice lifestyle, plenty work to do and plenty places to stay.

“I think the police would of found it quite hard to find me if I had chosen to hide which I did not do.”

Crockard was jailed for life in 1983 for the murder of two Catholic men in Belfast, but he served only eight years behind bars after he testified against 29 loyalists on over 90 UDA offences.

He has however been recalled to jail on four occasions after run-ins with the law but was never convicted.

“All together I have done over 18 years on this prison sentence all because they relate back to murders in the 1970s,” he said.

“I have come to terms with the fact that I am going back into prison for an unspecified period of time and I will go in and do what I have to do and answer the questions I have to answer. I have nothing to hide.”

The PSNI say they will be in contact with Prison authorities to “locate any idviduals who may be of interest to detectives in relation to Charlie Stead’s murder”.