Watchdog criticised over ‘soft line’ on UVF killing

A BRITISH government watchdog that blamed the leadership of the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) for a killing in Northern Ireland has been criticised for failing to order sanctions against the group.

Bobby Moffett, 43, was gunned down in front of shoppers in Belfast in May in a shooting that was widely blamed on members of the UVF, despite it being on ceasefire.

The Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) has now confirmed the group’s leadership sanctioned the killing, but the watchdog that monitors paramilitary activity advised government not to take action against the UVF at this time.