A man has failed in a High Court bid to stop Northern Ireland’s Sunday World writing about his alleged links to the banned terrorist group the UVF.

Colin Fulton sought an injunction under the Harassment Act 1997 to stop the newspaper from publishing articles suggesting he was involved with the organisation.

The Sunday World described Fulton as “Commmander Meerkat” and said he was a “UVF thug”.

Rejecting an interim injunction application, Mr Justice Gillard said the Sunday World was publishing “legitimate information concerning serious criminal activity”.

The paper said High Court judge Mr Justice Gillen ruled that death threats directed at him were not as a result of Sunday World reportage.

Fulton’s lawyers said he denied any paramilitary connection of any kind while “stressing that he has a clear criminal record. “

He has not sued for libel.

Last month an alleged Republican paramilitary lost a similar injunction against the Sunday World.