UDA accusation 'could provoke republican attack'
Accusations that the Ulster Defence Association broke its ceasefire to firebomb a house could provoke bomb attacks by dissident republicans, it was claimed tonight.
Angry loyalists have denied claims the UDA targeted the property in Coleraine, Co Derry.
The paramilitary organisation’s political wing also said attempts by police chiefs and SDLP representatives to blame its men might now be used as an excuse for new strikes.
Frankie Gallagher of the Ulster Political Research Group said security sources had alerted his colleagues to an imminent threat from rogue republicans.
“There are fears that they plan to bomb Coleraine and are taking advantage of the irresponsible accusations of SDLP Assembly member John Dallat,” he said.
“After his silly statement the dissidents are saying this gives them justification for defending the Catholic community.”
Mr Dallat backed police assessments that the UDA might have fire-bombed a house in Coleraine’s Ballysally estate just weeks after the terror group called a 12-month halt to all military operations.
A 22-year-old woman had to jump from the window of the property to escape the flames in last week’s attack.
But Mr Dallat tonight stood by his claims, and called on the paramilitaries to end the intimidation.
He said: “To suggest blaming the UDA gives an excuse for dissident republicans is like saying the existence of the Ku Klux Klan warranted Osama Bin Laden bombing the Twin Towers.
“I’m not particularly interested whether these incidents were officially sanctioned or not, it was UDA elements who did it.
“The point is it happened and the ordinary decent people of Coleraine have had enough of it.”
