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James Gray, (1958 - October 4, 2005), was the east Belfast leader of the Ulster Defence Association in Northern Ireland, an illegal loyalist paramilitary group. He was often nicknamed "Doris Day" for his flamboyant dress sense and dyed blonde hair. Another media nickname for Gray was the "Brigadier of Bling". He was also the part owner of several bars in east Belfast.^[1]

Gray was expelled from the organisation in March 2005, for unknown reasons. In April that year, he was arrested whilst driving; several thousand pounds were found in the car, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland believed he was intending to travel to the Republic of Ireland with what they suspected to be the proceeds of drug dealing and extortion. Gray was charged with money laundering, and held in custody until September when he was released on bail. During this time, police raids on a number of locations brought in thousands of documents related to this investigation. At the same time the prominent Belfast estate agent Philip Johnston was also arrested under suspicion of money laundering. On September 5, 2006 the Public Prosecution Service dropped all charges against Johnston, without stating a reason. Johnston stated that he had been financially ruined, and that "My name will never be restored". His business was the subject of a management buyout shortly after his initial arrest.^[2]

Gray was shot 5 times and killed outside his house shortly thereafter, by two unknown gunmen. The involvement of other loyalist factions was suspected, fuelling speculation that he was murdered through fears of him making an agreement with the police to expose his former associates in the UDA. He had previously been shot in the face in 2002, described by the police as "loosely related" to the death of Stephen Warnock a Loyalist Volunteer Force leader in a feud between loyalist groups.^[3]

Gray's only son, Jonathan, died of a drugs overdose in 2002 while with his father on holiday in Thailand. An October 2005 report by the Belfast Telegraph claimed that Gray was bisexual and would regularly take vacations to Thailand to have sex with teenage boys.^[4]

1. ^ Independent
2. ^ BBC News
3. ^ Top loyalist murdered on doorstep BBC News
4. ^ Belfast Telegraph

• PSNI Inquiry into James Gray's Murder

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