Cleared estate agent 'feared' ending links with UDA boss
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Irish News
September 5, 2006 Tuesday
Pg. 3
Cleared estate agent 'feared' ending links with UDA boss
Alan Erwin, PA
Belfast estate agent Philip Johnston has said he feared he would be harmed if he ended his association with UDA boss Jim Gray.
The 40-year-old, who learned last week that money-laundering charges against him have all been dropped, said at one stage he tried to get Gray to use the back door into his offices because of concerns his reputation would be damaged.
Mr Johnston was arrested in April last year by detectives investigating the financial affairs of the flamboyant paramilitary chief, who was ousted by the UDA and murdered while out on bail last October.
Since then he been forced to sell off his chain of branches across east Belfast and said he has been shunned and even spat at in the street.
Mr Johnston described the devastating consequences of renting a Cherry Tree Walk apartment to Gray nearly five years ago.
After that he said he would see Gray about once a month, despite attempts to distance himself from the infamous racketeer.
"He would come in the front door of my office at Ballyhackamore and I had to ask him would he maybe come in the back door," Mr Johnston said.
"And to that the reply was 'Why? Do you not like me?' How are you meant to reply to something of that nature?
"So I did what I thought was probably the safest and the easiest option at that time and ... he would maybe come in the back door.
"For no reason I may add. There wasn't a reason for coming in. Only to be seen in the professional sector."
Mr Johnston insisted it was unrealistic to suggest telling Gray to stay away.
"I had the opportunity of standing on the Upper Newtownards Road having a conversation with Jim Gray and saying 'Look, I'm very sorry but you're not doing any good for my reputation, would you mind just f****** right off?'
"Somehow I don't think that would have gone down particularly well ... I maybe would not be sitting here today in a fairly good physical condition."
The estate agent strongly denied ever having any criminal dealings with the paramilitary commander or any loyalist organisation.
"I believe all in all I stayed on the right side of the law.
"Taking into consideration I employed 65-70 people ... It wasn't just me. There were other people to consider in this whole catastrophe."
Mr Johnston faced four money-laundering charges, all connected to property, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act, after police searched his six estate agency branches.
Within weeks of being released on bail, half his business had vanished.
"I've been destroyed. The majority of people dropped me like a stone," he said.
"I've been spat at in the street, I've been glared at and comments made. To sit in an airport and somebody else gets up and moves away because they recognise you.
"My business was destroyed the day I was arrested and people will say 'Well, you brought it on yourself'. But, you know, I feel extremely let down by the system.
"I have maintained my innocence from day one. I was never conscious or frightened that some stone may be turned ... because I always knew within my heart of hearts that I had not committed any criminal act.
"I have been put on a pedestal and exhibited to the general public as a professional individual - these are the powers that the Proceeds of Crime Act and the police have and this is what we can do.
"Overnight we can go in, we can destroy you. So it's not a threat, it's a promise.
"Look what we did to Philip Johnston."
Speaking to BBC Northern Ireland's Spotlight programme, Mr Johnston claimed his name would never be fully restored.
"Anybody who talks about Philip Johnston the estate agent in the future will be synonymous with two things: one, property and two, Jim Gray/paramilitary organisation/money laundering.
"That is Belfast."
