Rival loyalists in peace talks
Rival loyalist paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland are holding talks in a major new attempt to forge a united front, it emerged tonight.
Ulster Defence Association and Ulster Volunteer Force commanders once locked in a deadly dispute have held a number of meetings in Belfast in the last week.
One loyalist source said: “If this works out it will be big.
“This is moving towards a new loyalism down the line.”
Efforts to draw the two terror groups into a closer alliance intensified after a savage UDA feud which claimed four lives was settled.
Supporters of rogue paramilitary leader Johnny “Mad Dog” Adair were driven out of Northern Ireland last week by factions intent on avenging the assassination of UDA chief John Gregg.
With those blamed for igniting violent tensions in Protestant parts of the city exiled in Scotland, thousands of loyalists from the different organisations attended Gregg’s funeral in a huge show of loyalist solidarity.
Since then UDA and UVF bosses have begun fresh discussions in a bid to agree a way forward after two-and-a-half years of tensions.
An uneasy truce has existed between the two organisations since a shooting war in the summer of 2000 claimed seven lives.
Senior figures on both sides were involved in the latest meeting which took place in Belfast on Tuesday, one well-placed source confirmed.
“Community issues such as anti-social behaviour were discussed,” he said.
“John Gregg’s death has helped to gel loyalism and there’s no doubt that relationships are now better than they were.”
A UVF source claimed the big test now was for the rival organisation to cut back on its involvement in drug dealing.
“The UDA and the UVF are having conversations and will be having closer links,” he said.
“But I’m not sure if UVF people on the ground are ready for this until the UDA proves its leadership are not running drugs.
“They won’t get drawn into that trap again. They have tried to distance themselves from all this criminality but it hasn’t worked.
“The chief constable and the Prime Minister want to coral all loyalists as gangsters.”
Another loyalist source claimed low-level attacks such as a pipe-bombing on the home of three pensioners in west Belfast earlier this week showed more work needed to be done.
“Relationships are not yet all hugs and kisses now Adair has gone,” he said.
“The attendance at Gregg’s funeral needs to be capitalised on, otherwise that sense of euphoria could soon vanish.”
