Loyalists urged to follow LVF lead

LOYALIST terror groups were last night urged to follow the lead of the Loyalist Volunteer Force following its declaration that it was standing down its military units.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain told MPs the peace process was moving in the right direction after the LVF's move and Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams' weekend claim that the IRA's war was over.

"As the House will know, the LVF and the Ulster Volunteer Force have been engaged in a grisly feud over the summer which has cost four lives," he said.

"I welcome any move that brings such murderous violence to an end.

"The statement is therefore a step forward and one that I hope will give encouragement to those who are working to establish the primacy of politics in their communities.

"Of course words must also be matched by deeds from all loyalist groups.

"What we need to see is the full decommissioning of all paramilitary arsenals and a complete and permanent end to all paramilitary and criminal activity from all paramilitary groups.

"And in welcoming this statement, can I also say that hearing the President of Sinn Féin use the words 'the war is over' words that we have wanted to hear for such a long time, is also a further sign that we are continuing to move in the right direction."

The LVF said its move was in response to recent IRA disarmament. The hardline group was formed by Billy "King Rat" Wright after the ULster Volunteer Force leadership stood down his unit in 1996.

It has a reputation for carrying out bitter sectarian murders and is also believed to have been heavily involved in criminal activity, especially drug dealing.

Wright was shot at point blank range by INLA prisoners in the Maze Prison during Christmas 1997.

The LVF's announcement also came hours after the Loyalist Commission confirmed an end to the organisation's feud with the UVF which claimed four lives over the summer.

They were: Jameson Lockhart, 25, shot dead on July 1; Craig McCausland, 20, shot dead in his home on July 11; Stephen Paul, 28, shot dead on July 30; and Michael Green, 42, shot dead on August 15.

The UVF carried out all the killings.

It is now reported to be involved in a major internal debate over its future.

Democratic Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson welcomed the LVF's announcement and said it was time all loyalist paramilitaries abandoned violence and crime.

"We would call on the other loyalist paramilitary groups to follow suit and to also confirm that they are standing down their units and ending all their violent and criminal activity.

"We are clear that the only way forward in Northern Ireland is through the democratic process."

Nationalists also responded cautiously. Sinn Féin Assembly member Gerry Kelly said it was natural, given the LVF's history, that nationalists would wait and see if the organisation would honour its word.