The first serious hints of progress on loyalist decommissioning are starting to emerge from the paramilitary world, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal today.

Senior loyalist sources who have spoken to the Telegraph said the paramilitaries have not been put off by recent dissident republican attacks and have indicated possible movement on the arms issue — but have not provided details.

The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) is due to produce a summer report on progress — asked for by Secretary of State Shaun Woodward when he set a deadline for the UDA and UVF to deliver.

But one source told this newspaper: “What they (loyalists) are going to do, or not do, will not be determined by pressure, political statements or events.”

The latter is a reference to the recent dissident republican murders of two soldiers at Massereene Barracks in Antrim and of Constable Stephen Carroll in Craigavon — formally discussed by the loyalist paramilitary leaderships in recent days.

“My gut feeling is that they won’t let it put them off course,” the source said. “Whatever they were thinking of doing, they will do.”

The source added: “I think they will not stay static ? whether it pleases people or not, I don’t know.

“Whatever decisions they have already taken, they will stick to.”

Another hint of progress on the issue of arms came from another senior loyalist, who said: “There’s positive thinking.

“I would say that the de Chastelain report will be a favourable report.”

General John de Chastelain and the other IICD commissioners, Brigadier Tauno Nieminen and Andrew Sens, were in Belfast recently and held meetings, including ones with senior PSNI officers.

And, in a few months’ time, the Northern Ireland Office wants that report from the commission.

If it does not indicate significant progress — beyond discussions on the methods or modalities of decommissioning — Secretary of State Woodward has warned he will rescind the legislation. That would involve removing the amnesty provisions that mean no forensic testing of weapons that are decommissioned.

“Interlocutors are in place,” a loyalist said.

“They have been in place for nine years. Leave it up to them,” he added.

He means the discussions that are taking place should be left to loyalists and the IICD.

In what were seen as “end game” statements in 2007 the UVF said its arms had been put “beyond reach” and the UDA said its guns were “beyond use”.

But neither organisation decommissioned weapons under schemes agreed or acceptable to the IICD.

Now, there are hints of progress, but without any detail being given.

One source pointed to the recent government decision to extend the decommissioning legislation.

“It would be obvious they [loyalists] have already made a decision on the road they want to go down,” the source said.

“I don’t think the events of the past fortnight have changed anything.”