A unionist paramilitary gunman shot up the home of an innocent woman in east Belfast last Thursday night.

The attack was captured in CCTV footage (pictured). It was reportedly organised by a major cocaine dealer who haad recently joined the East Belfast UVF.

Despite being a notorious drug pusher, he took part in UVF “Remembrance Sunday” commemoration earlier this month. He was recently convicted in court of a violent assault, but was allowed to walk free.

The East Belfast UVF split in November 2023 when its former alleged leader Stephen ‘Mackers’ Matthews and several of his closest allies were dropped amid feuding over the proceeds of crime, according to the Sunday Life newspapper.

They were replaced by a new leadership who have publicly vowed to be anti-drugs, but who have intensified their drug dealing. An organisation calling itself the ‘New UVF’ has since been linked to Matthews.

The shooting up of the house on the Beersbridge Road was one of three planned attacks by the new UVF gangland boss, including pipe-bombings at the home of an 88-year-old great grandmother and another woman.

A statement subsequently released on social media linked to the UVF East Belfast Brigade denied involvement, blaming the incident on “a dispute between criminal gangs”.

The PSNI said they are “working to establish a motive” for the attacks.