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Stop pussyfooting with UDA, governments urged

Monday, 20 July 2009

UDA: splinter group fears

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Fears over the future conduct of the paramilitary UDA are to be raised with the British and Irish governments.

The loyalist grouping, which is the largest paramilitary organisation in Northern Ireland, decommissioned some of its illegal cache of weapons last month, but has been criticised for not completing the disarmament process.

Loyalists linked to the UDA in Londonderry and north Antrim withdrew support for the police earlier this month, sparking fears that the Northern Ireland-wide group is splintering into different factions, though this has been denied by its representatives.

UDA members have been accused of involvement in the murder of Catholic man Kevin McDaid who was beaten to death in May by a mob in Coleraine, Co Londonderry.

The organisation also faced criticism last week when 150 members took to the streets in Londonderry city.

The Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG) has insisted the UDA is committed to securing a lasting peace but has claimed that loyalist communities are not reaping the benefits of the new era in Northern Ireland and feel isolated. But yesterday East Londonderry representative for the SDLP, John Dallat, accused the authorities of “pussyfooting” with the UDA.

“I have sent an urgent message to the Department of Foreign Affairs asking for an early meeting with their representative for this area and I have also written at length to the Secretary of State,” he said.

“I do not want to see another generation of innocent people sacrificed and I do take some comfort from the fact that the PSNI have made successes in recent times and feel certain that this has provoked a great deal of resentment within the UDA at local level.

“The time for horse-trading with paramilitaries is over and the time for genuine partnership at every level of society leading to permanent reconciliation between our people is the only show in town.”

Mr Dallat added that there “can be no room for ‘brigadiers' and ‘generals' and certainly no tolerance for those who don't support law and order and won't decommission their weapons of murder and destruction”.

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The vast majority of n/antrim londonderry loyalists do not want the uda to give up guns. ask the loyalist people of rasharkin and the fountain estate what the so called peace we have has given them. nothing but republicans trying to eradicate them from these areas. belfast does not mirror our views. you can keep your money we will not be bought over

Posted by patriot | 20.07.09, 19:56 GMT

There is no need for a UDA or any other proclaimed saviours of Ulster. The UDA never went down the path of politics unlike the UVF. The UVF proved they had the willpower and intelligence to accept that the majority of people in Ulster wanted peace. The UVF/ PUP have moved forward taking on the politics of the workers and unemployed and should be commended. The PUP is an alternative to the Unionist /Tory party for all the people . The UDA have no where to go as the 'enemy' dosnt exist. The 'enemy' { Provos} have become good friends as seen in government with the DUP who have the concensus of the majority of Ulster people. The word democracy dosnt wash with the UDA and never did! The police now have the vote of the Ulster people to move against them!

Posted by mike monahan | 20.07.09, 19:39 GMT

was the psni/ruc doing...

Event security/free of charge crowd control. They should give up the PSNI uniforms and wear t-shirts with "Crew" written on them

Posted by Norman | 20.07.09, 18:40 GMT

r jones hate to disappoint but I'm a protestant living in an area infested by drunken UDA low-lives who neither work or look after their offspring after they breed. Your "heros" the UDA, who you seem to be the mouthpiece for, neither defend nor represent my community, although they do make a living of a kind from us. This allows the "brigadiers" to play golf with the Irish president and swan-about their ghettos like gods. What do their soldiers get out of it? They get to sell ballots, the Loyalist news and run about in packs as if they own the place.....

Posted by William | 20.07.09, 17:22 GMT

r jones - why should they give up arms?

What do they need them for? "The other side" as you so eloquently put it don't have an armoured brigade so RPG's and Powergel are completely unnecessary. Anyway the UDA / UVF were nothing more than an outlet of naked sectarian bigotry expressed in its sickest lowest form.

Posted by Bren | 20.07.09, 16:43 GMT

You don't need to be that smart to get some 'stuff' that if used in the Repulic would make the UVF bombings in the South in 1974 look like a joke.

Complain about this comment
Posted by James | 20.07.09, 07:04 GMT

***************************************************

I would hope that the appropriate responsible law enforcement agencies of N. Ireland would pay this meatball a visit. This guy could very well be on the verge of going over the edge, and it would be good for them to interview him before he does some damage.

Posted by Edward | 20.07.09, 16:34 GMT

R Jones, you state that you are indifferent? I beg to differ.
Let's see now. You condone murders and criminals holding onto weapons, you obviously have contempt for people in the south of Ireland, you refer to "the other side"(hardly an impartial stance).
I'm pretty sure that you and James both hold similar views but at least he was upfront about it.
The UDA cannot hide behind a flimsy excuse anymore, R Jones. You are entitled you say that you condone murders and drug dealers being fully armed. I would point out, however, that the majority of people in Northern Ireland have the good sense not to agree with you.

Posted by Ulysses32 | 20.07.09, 16:32 GMT

why should they give up arms? there is still a very real threat that if they did, then the dissidents would start it all over again. truth be told..the threat they pose is no different to the threat posed from them in the south, and the mouthpieces in the north(including their children, disgustingly)

also william, might just inform you since youre clearly a mouthpiece to the other 'side' that even your religious leader detests your heros! so that shouldnt be 99.99% of Catholics against, should be all 100%! hypocrisy...110% expected since you arent capable of an unbiased view.

personally Im indifferent, the pasts the past. if I really wanted to use the past as justification for acts..it works in both sides favour...so Id certainly neither condemn nor condone.

Posted by r jones | 20.07.09, 15:46 GMT

150 took the streets in Derry? was the psni/ruc doing what???? probably like the pasts years: supporting them!!!!

Posted by Andrea | 20.07.09, 15:38 GMT

The UDA is an organisation made up of uneducated dunderheads lead by half a dozen parasites who make a nice living from the rest. The organisation is detested by 99.9% of the protestant people. You embarrass yourselves and your community. Now go away empty head and do what the UDA do best, leeching of the government, and your own people. I really do hope that all funding for the UDAs "community" projects is halted and the "employees" find proper, productive employment. Although I doubt this would be feasible as a basic education is required these days, even for flipping burgers.

Posted by William | 20.07.09, 14:32 GMT

James: "You don't need to be that smart to get some 'stuff' that if used in the Repulic would make the UVF bombings in the South in 1974 look like a joke."

So you are suggesting the bombing of the Republic as suitable response James, and it should be more deadly than the 1974 bombings, is that right?

Posted by Norman | 20.07.09, 13:47 GMT

Wise up James. The same could have been said about the British governments involvement in the IRA's historic handover of arms. The fact is it doesn't matter who is involved as long as it's done. It's clampets like yourself that continue to have a biggoted remark about every story that are holding this country back.

Posted by Liam | 20.07.09, 13:36 GMT

Hard to believe that such neanderthals like James really still exist in Northern Ireland.
People like him should be placed in a display case at a museum. Either that or a stock so that rotten fruit and veg. can be slung at him.
Where have you been for the last 10 years or so, James? Living in a cave?

Posted by Ulysses32 | 20.07.09, 13:33 GMT

James we have every right to know what the UDA/loyalist paramilitaries are up to/contemplating full stop.

Posted by Niall | 20.07.09, 13:26 GMT

Is is highly unlikely that supporters of U.D.A. commissioning will find much support in the Dáil, most of whose members have never shown much sympathy for the victims of Loyalist violence during the 30 years of the 'troubles'.

Posted by Seán Mac Curtáin | 20.07.09, 13:25 GMT

150 took to the streets in Londonderry? Why? Shoppping?

Posted by Andrew | 20.07.09, 12:57 GMT

There can be no reconciliation unless there was betrayal there was no betrayal unless there was trust. According to Al Capone
Big Fred

Posted by fred needham | 20.07.09, 11:54 GMT

Let there be no doubt the UDA should be proscribed and it's structure dismantled at once. However the same should apply to all such organizations from whatever side of the political divide. Throughout the island of Ireland for too long this culture has been allowed to develop and foster bigotry and hatred.

Posted by Ulsterman | 20.07.09, 08:00 GMT