UDA vows to work towards disarmament
Northern Ireland's largest loyalist paramilitary group The Ulster Defence Association today pledged to end all violence and work towards complete disarmament.
The announcement was made by Tommy Kirkham of the Ulster Political Research Group, the political representative of the UDA.
Mr Kirkham, speaking to more than 2,000 UDA members in the loyalist Ratchtoole estate on the northern outskirts of Belfast, said: “From today we are prepared to move into a process. Our commitment to that process will be to work towards a day when there is no longer a need for a UDA and a UFF (Ulster Freedom Fighters).”
Mr Kirkham said that from today the UDA would desist from all violent activity: “The strategy of the organisation will be come one of community development, job creation, social inclusion and community politics.”
The announcement followed the decision of Northern Secretary Paul Murphy to recognise the UDA ceasefire.
On Friday, Mr Murphy admitted that he was taking a gamble but he had decided to despecify the UDA’s ceasefire because he was persuaded the organisation was serious about seeking a new beginning.
