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Greysteel killer returns to jail

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Torrens Knight walking into Coleraine Magistrates Court
Notorious loyalist killer Torrens Knight has been re-arrested in Coleraine and sent back to jail, UTV revealed.

Knight, who was behind 12 killings at Greysteel and Castlerock in 1993, was found guilty last week of assaulting two sisters in a Coleraine bar.

Following his conviction, Secretary of State Shaun Woodward suspended his early release licence on Tuesday evening.

The loyalist killer was released in 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

"I will not hesitate to act to suspend the licence of any prisoner who was released under the Sentences Act early release scheme, introduced following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, if, by their actions, they prove they have become a danger to the public", Mr Woodward said.

"My priority is public safety and in the interests of the community at large. I cannot permit freedom to any individual intent on abusing the opportunity they have been given to benefit from the early release scheme," he added.

Knight, 40, was arrested just before 7pm and returned to Maghaberry prison.

He was convicted of 12 terrorist murders during the Troubles, including those of eight people in the infamous Greysteel massacre.

He was a member of the Ulster Freedom Fighters gang that burst into the Rising Sun bar in the Co Londonderry village on Halloween in 1993 and opened fire.

The killings are always associated with the chilling "trick or treat" phrase shouted by one of the gunmen before they started shooting.

Knight was also convicted of the murders of four Catholic builders in the nearby town of Castlerock earlier that year.

On Thursday, a district judge in Coleraine Magistrates' Court convicted Knight of punching Caroline Nicholl to the ground and then kicking her before turning his fists on her sister Rosemary Sutherland inside the Blackthorn bar last May.

Following his conviction on two counts of assault and one of disorderly behaviour, East Londonderry SDLP MLA John Dallat had called for his early release licence to be rescinded as soon as possible.

"I am very relieved," Mr Dallat said on Tuesday night.

"I am sorry it took so long to do it but I believe Coleraine can sleep a little easier and I am particularly pleased for Rosemary and Caroline, who were so savagely beaten."

Knight is appealing his latest convictions.

His case will go before the Life Sentence Review Commissioners who will consider the evidence before deciding whether to keep him in prison.

Torrens Knight

© UTV News

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At 19:48 on 29 October 2009, Andy wrote:
I agree with John,Gerry and Liambo,hes a waste of space and hopefully stays in prison until he dies, Patricia unlike Knight,Sean Kelly was'nt running around beating up women,he was put back inside because loyalist bigots moaned about him being at scene of rioting,when infact he was helping to stop it
At 10:26 on 28 October 2009, John wrote:
My faith in the British judicial system has been restored. This man is pure evil having been convicted of involvement in 12 murder's and now 2 assaults on women. I hope he serves out his original sentence without parole. The same should apply to all the rest of the paramilitaries both Republican and Loyalist who were released early under The Good Friday Agreement. Let this be a lesson for them all, your behaviour will not be tolerated and your intimidation will not be tolerated.
At 10:17 on 28 October 2009, Patricia Kennedy wrote:
Why is John Dallat on such a witch-hunt after Torrens Knight? Hopefully the same rule will apply as Shankill Bomber Sean Kelly only stayed a week in jail after he had his licence revolked!! Interesting indeed!!!
At 02:13 on 28 October 2009, gerry wrote:
Prison is to good for him. but at least if he is locked up he cannot murder any more catholics or beat up woman. What a piece of dirt this muppet is his family must be proud of him.
At 21:59 on 27 October 2009, Liambo wrote:
Why did it take Mr.Woodward a week to revoke his license??Interesting.
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