1. William John Boreland was a Northern Irish footballer and loyalist activist.
11 Facts About John Boreland
1. 2.
John Boreland came to prominence in the early years of the 21st century when he served as leader of the North Belfast Brigade of the Ulster Defence Association and, as such, one of the six commanders of the movement as a whole.
3.
John Boreland represented Cliftonville FC, a club associated with the nationalist community in north Belfast.
4.
John Boreland joined the UDA's North Belfast brigade and became close to Andre Shoukri.
5.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland announced that John Boreland had succeeded the Shoukris as the North Belfast brigadier in September 2003 and suggested that he had ordered a series of attacks against the homes of Catholic residents on the Deerpark Road, an area sandwiched between the loyalist Glenbryn and republican Ardoyne areas.
6.
Simpson began a whispering campaign against John Boreland, questioning his credentials for leadership and suggesting that he had done nothing of note during the Troubles.
7.
In November 2005, John Boreland was arrested, along with Andre Shoukri, on charges of extortion.
8.
On his release, John Boreland was pictured in The Irish News with Andre Shoukri attending an event to commemorate killed UDA members in north Belfast on Remembrance Day 2011.
9.
John Boreland was shot and killed at his Sunningdale Gardens home on the evening of 7 August 2016.
10.
John Boreland was shot at close range at 21:50 BST as he returned to his flat by an assailant wielding a shotgun.
11.
John Boreland had visited a local pub, the Hedgehog and Bucket on the nearby Oldpark Road, and was returning home when the attack occurred.