Adams condemns pipebomb attacks
The latest gun and pipe bomb attacks were condemned by Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and Stormont Executive SDLP minister Sean Farren.
It was clear that some loyalists, including sections of the Ulster Defence Association, were involved, Mr Farren said after meeting new Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid.
‘‘Quite obviously, in parts of the North and in particular in County Antrim and in my own constituency, the spate of attacks have continued unabated,’’ said the north Antrim MLA.
‘‘It is obvious that there are elements within the major loyalist paramilitary groups particularly within the UDA that there are now sections of the UDA that no longer support the broad leadership with respect to the Good Friday agreement.
‘‘It is those elements that are perpetrating, it would appear, the attacks, which are causing great concern in north Antrim and east Antrim in particular.’’
Mr Adams also blamed UDA members for overnight attacks in north Belfast, saying republicans and nationalists were amazed that the media spotlight was on the issue of whether the IRA was prepared to move on disarmament instead of on the sectarian violence being carried out by loyalists.
