Flanagan blames UDA for attacks against Catholics

The RUC chief constable, Ronnie Flanagan, has said he believes the Ulster Defence Association is responsible for an orchestrated campaign of pipe-bomb attacks on Catholic homes across the North.

However, he added that it is too early to say whether last night's murder of a Protestant teenager was also the work of the loyalist paramilitary group.

The Red Hand Defenders, a widely-used cover-name for the UDA, claimed responsibility for the killing.

They are believed to have murdered 18-year-old Gavin Brett because they thought he was a Catholic.

Earlier today, an SDLP delegation met Mr Flanagan to discuss their belief that the UDA is no longer on ceasefire.

Just this month, the hardline loyalist group pulled out of the peace process, but said its ceasefire is still intact.

After that meeting, the SDLP urged Mr Flanagan and Northern Secretary John Reid to reveal their opinions on the state of the UDA ceasefire.

Both Sinn Fein and the SDLP believe the UDA is consistently attacking innocent Catholics in an attempt to provoke the IRA back into violence, a move that would destroy the Good Friday Agreement and return the six counties to Westminster rule.

Meanwhile, sectarian clashes have broken out in Glengormley, Co Antrim, near the scene of last night's murder outside St Enda's GAA club on Hightown Road.

RUC riot police were called to quell the violence between nationalists and loyalists, which only stopped when officers set up a buffer zone between the rival youths.