Former UDA chief Sam “Skelly” McCrory is expected to be laid to rest in Northern Ireland.
The 57-year-old, who had been exiled to Scotland following a bloody loyalist feud, fell to his death outside his flat in Ayr on Sunday.
A source said: “The funeral needs to be quiet and dignified and no one wants trouble with former friends or enemies.
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“The arrangements aren’t in place yet but we hope his final resting place will be back home.”
Details of his private funeral service have not been released yet but the PSNI had discussions earlier this week about public security around it and the potential for trouble.
McCrory, a one-time leading member of the UFF C Coy, headed by Johnny “Mad Dog’ Adair, was both loved and loathed in his own community. Both men and other members of their faction fled Belfast in 2003 following a feud.
McCrory, who served seven years in the Maze Prison in the 1990s, and the other exiles were under death threat if they returned to Northern Ireland.
A security source said: “McCrory was yesterday’s man for many years but his funeral is very much a present day
security consideration and discussions are underway over potential security detail for the day.
“That very much depends on who plans to attend it, including Adair.”
McCrory’s family was originally from the Oldpark area of North Belfast before they moved to the Shankill.
Aged 23, he was linked to the murder of Francisco Notarantonio who was shot dead by the UDA in October 1987.
In July 1992, he and “Fat” Jackie Thompson were caught in a security forces sting as they made their way to murder IRA leaders Brian Gillen and Martin Lynch.
At 6.50am while driving over Finaghy Railway Bridge in South Belfast, his path was blocked by a police car and as he tried to escape from a car with his gang, the Army opened fire.
A total of 33 rounds were fired by troops and the RUC that morning.
McCrory was found in possession of an AK47 assault rifle, Browning double barrel magazine, an SMG double magazine and a sledgehammer. He said he was “going on a military operation to eliminate high-level IRA targets”.
McCrory was arrested and convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and possession of fire arms with intention to endanger life.
He was sentenced to 16 years in jail and was sent straight back to the loyalist wing at the Maze prison.
In 1998, with the nascent peace process in danger of collapsing with loyalists threatening to end their support and their ceasefire, McCrory met Secretary of State Mo Mowlam inside the Co Antrim jail.
Police Scotland said an investigation into his death is at an early stage.
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