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A former loyalist paramilitary commander turned supergrass has pleaded guilty to 200 terror offences, including five murders.

Relatives of Gary Haggarty’s victims watched as the ex-chief of the Ulster Volunteer Force’s notorious north Belfast Mount Vernon unit said “guilty” to the litany of charges in Belfast Crown Court.

The long-time police informer, currently in protective custody, will also give evidence against fellow terrorists.

As well as the five murders, Haggarty admitted five attempted murders, including against police officers; 23 counts of conspiracy to murder; directing terrorism; and membership of a proscribed organisation.

He also admitted assisting offenders involved in a murder bid on fellow UVF terror chief and police informer Mark Haddock.

(Image: Photopress Belfast)

On top of the 200 guilty pleas, Haggarty , 45, acknowledged responsibility for 304 other more minor offences.

His offences over 16-years from 1991 to 2007 include the loyalist murders of John Harbinson, Sean McParland, Gary Convie, Eamon Fox and Sean McDermott and he is expecting a heavily reduced sentence for his cooperating.

Outside court, Mr Fox’s son Ciaran broke down as he said: “It’s just hard sitting in a courtroom watching a guy admitting to murdering your father,” he said.

Mr Fox said: “The police knew what was going to happen and took no action to stop it. Basically he was just a hitman - he killed at will.”

He added: “Police knew my father and Gary Convie were both going to be murdered and they sat back and let it happen and that’s hard to swallow.

“I don’t care about the UVF, they’ll meet their maker some day - the police, the people who were in authority to protect and serve, they didn’t protect my family.”

It is understood Haggarty has made allegations against 14 fellow loyalists, for crimes including four murders.

He has also given evidence in relation to alleged criminality by two former Royal Ulster Constabulary Special Branch handlers who worked with him when he was an informer.

His charge sheet includes aiding and abetting murder, kidnap, possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives as well as hijacking, false imprisonment, arson, intimidation and conspiracy to riot.

But he could walk free after his sentence hearing in September, given he has already served three years in custody - the equivalent of a six-year sentence.

Haggarty, who is believed to be living at a secret location outside Northern Ireland, was escorted into court through a side door by two specialist police officers.

He was initially arrested in 2009 and charged with the murder of Mr Harbinson.

He then turned state’s witness and subsequently signed an agreement to become an assisting offender under the terms of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (Socpa).

The terror boss, whose address was formally recorded on the indictment sheet as care of a Belfast police station, stood in the dock dressed in a grey suit during the hearing before judge Mr Justice Treacy.

Mr Fox expressed doubt Haggarty would ever end up in the witness box, alleging vested interests would thwart it.

“This goes right to the top, there are too many people going to get their hands burnt,” he said.

“He’s done wrong, his hands are deep in blood along with people he’s going to expose and because of who he’s going to expose I think it’s not going to finish.”