UDA ‘disillusioned’ by ceasefire response

THE Ulster Defence Association said yesterday its members were disillusioned by the response others to its recent ceasefire.

In a statement issued through the Ulster Political Research Group in Derry, Northern Ireland’s largest loyalist paramilitary group said it felt some people were trying to “provoke a negative response” from the organisation.

It also accused “elements within the Police Service of Northern Ireland” of trying to “destabilise loyalism in general and the UDA in particular”.

While the 12-month cessation remained intact, the organisation said: “Six months since the launch of ‘The John Gregg Initiative’ the Ulster Defence Association rank and file have become disillusioned with the lack of response from the British government.

“The government’s refusal to recognise the UDA’s ceasefire is mirrored by elements within the PSNI who appear determined to demonise and destabilise loyalism in general and the UDA in particular. Recent actions by these elements can only be seen as an attempt to provoke a negative response from the Ulster Defence Association.”

The UDA ceasefire was announced in February after the end of a bloody internal feud in the organisation. The feud claimed the life of brigadier John Gregg and resulted in the imprisonment of rogue loyalist Johnny Adair and the eventual expulsion of his supporters from their lower Shankill power base in west Belfast.