Published Friday, 08 January 2010
Belfast Crown Court was told that Newtownabbey brothers David Ian Stewart, 35, and his older brother Robert Ian Stewart, 39, are to be arraigned next month on 79 new charges with a further 29 "to be taken into consideration".
In December 2008, the pair admitted aiding and abetting others in the murder of UDA chief Tommy English who was gunned down in his Ballyduff home on October 31st, 2000.
The murder was one of seven killings during a bloody feud between the UVF and UDA.
Before his murder, the 40-year-old had been part of a loyalist delegation which took part in talks at Stormont as the Good Friday Agreement was set up and signed.
Both David Stewart, from Carntall Rise, and Robert Stewart, from Ballyearl Court, have since been jailed for life but their minimum tariffs have yet to be imposed.
At the time of the arraignment, the pair also pleaded guilty to a string of other charges - including hijacking, possession of a gun, false imprisonment and UVF membership.
On Friday, defence lawyers for the brothers said they were not opposing the Crown application to present the "voluntary bill" but that they wished to take instructions on a number of the fresh charges.
No details as to what any of the new counts are were given in court but it is understood that they will represent the brothers' full criminality through their involvement with the UVF.
In an investigation lead by the Historical Enquiries Team, a number of other men have since been arrested and charged with the murder.