Editing Shankill Butchers (section)

==Aftermath==
Several sources indicate that [[UVF Mid-Ulster Brigade|Mid-Ulster UVF's]] brigade commander, [[Robin Jackson|Robin "The Jackal" Jackson]] from [[Donaghcloney]] contacted members of the gang in the Shankill, "Mr. A" in particular, and had them make an attempt on the life of journalist Jim Campbell, northern editor of the ''[[Sunday World]]'' newspaper, in May 1984. Campbell, whose investigations put the spotlight on Jackson's activities, was seriously wounded but survived.<ref name=newspapers>[http://media.gn.apc.org/ohagan7.html "On the first anniversary of Martin O’Hagan’s murder"], media.gn.apc.org, 3 January 2003. Retrieved 7 March 2016.</ref>

All members of the Butchers gang have been released. The first to be freed was John Townsley, who had been only 14 when he became involved with the gang and 16 when arrested. In October 1996, Bates was released;<ref name="release">"Shankill Butcher is Freed", ''The Belfast Telegraph'', 26 October 1996.</ref> he had reportedly "found religion" behind bars. Bates was shot and killed in the upper Shankill area on 11 June 1997 by the son of the UDA man he had killed in the Windsor Bar.<ref name="Moorehead relative">[http://www.birw.org/Deaths%20since%20ceasefire/deaths%2097.html "Conflict related deaths 1997"], birw.org. Retrieved 7 March 2016.</ref><ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/exposure-sealed-fate-of-notorious-activists-710345.html "Exposure sealed fate of notorious activists"] ''The Independent'', 24 August 2000</ref> "Mr. B", John Murphy, died in a car accident in Belfast in August 1998.<ref>Jordan, pp 194–95</ref> In July 2000, Sam McAllister was injured in an attack during a loyalist feud.<ref name="Feud 2000">[https://web.archive.org/web/20100926194149/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/spate-of-savage-killings-blamed-on-loyalist-feud-706364.html "Spate of savage killings blamed on loyalist feud"] ''The Independent'', 15 July 2002. Retrieved 21 June 2009.</ref>

William Moore was the final member of the gang to be released from prison in August 1998, after over twenty-one years behind bars. He died on 17 May 2009, from a suspected heart attack at his home and was given a paramilitary funeral by the UVF.<ref name="Funeral">[http://www.irishnews.com/appnews/540/5860/2009/5/22/618219_382194730962UVFfunera.html] "UVF funeral for Butcher"</ref><ref name="Moore death">[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/shankill-butcher-william-moore-dies-14306112.html "William Moore dies"], ''The Belfast Telegraph''. Retrieved 7 March 2016.</ref> With Moore now deceased, the only senior figure still alive is "Mr. A".<ref>''Sunday Life'', 24 May 2009</ref>

In November 2004, the Serious Crime Review Team in Belfast said they were looking into the unsolved death of Rosaleen O'Kane, aged 33 at the time of her death, who was found dead in her home in September 1976. Her family and authorities believe the Shankill Butchers may have been involved in her death.<ref name=rosaleen1>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3983053.stm Murder link to Shankill Butchers], BBC.co.uk, 4 November 2004. Retrieved 9 October 2008.</ref>

McIlwaine, who survived a republican assassination attempt in 1991, has retained his links to the [[Orange Order]] and UVF.<ref>Kurtis Reid, [https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/shankill-butcher-eddie-mcilwaine-spotted-marching-in-whiterock-parade/a644644071.html 'Shankill Butcher Eddie McIlwaine spotted marching in Whiterock parade']. ''Belfast Telegraph'', 24 June 2023, retrieved 26 June 2023</ref><ref>Allan Preston, [https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2023/06/25/news/shankill_butcher_eddie_mcilwaine_spotted_putting_up_uvf_flag-3380086/ 'Shankill Butcher Eddie McIlwaine spotted putting up UVF flag']. ''Irish News'', 25 June 2023, retrieved 26 June 2023</ref>