US attorney general seeks ban on Ulster terror groups
The American Government has recommended outlawing loyalist and republican paramilitary groups opposed to the Good Friday Agreement, it emerged today.
Attorney-general John Ashcroft has asked for the move in the wake of new anti-terrorist legislation passed following the September 11 attacks on America.
The groups will be banned from fundraising, and under the new law non-American supporters can have their visas withdrawn and be deported if they are found to be backing them.
The designations have to be approved by Secretary of State Colin Powell, and is likely to be rubber-stamped next week.
The groups named by Mr Ashcroft in the formal request are the Loyalist Volunteer Force, Orange Volunteers and Red Hand Defenders.
It follows the move to outlaw the Real IRA, another republican splinter group opposed to the Good Friday Agreement, earlier this year.
American banks will also be ordered to freeze all assets belonging to the group once the order goes ahead.
A letter to Mr Powell from Mr Ashcroft said: ‘‘The president’s executive order finds that these organisations commit, or provide material support for, terrorist acts, and thus satisfies the statutory predicate for your designation.’’
The LVF claimed responsibility for the murder of Northern Ireland journalist Martin O’Hagan near his home in Lurgan, in Co Armagh.
Mr O’Hagan, who worked for the northern edition of the Dublin-based Sunday World, was walking home from his local pub with his wife when he was gunned down.
