Reid 'made a fool of himself': McGuinness

Northern Secretary Dr John Reid has been told by Sinn Fein minister Martin McGuinness that he ‘‘made a fool of himself’’ by not declaring that the Ulster Defence Association/Ulster Freedom Fighters’ ceasefire was over.

The accusation followed the murder last night of Sunday World journalist Martin O'Hagan.

As he attended his party’s annual conference in Dublin, the Mid Ulster MP described the killing of Mr O’Hagan as ‘‘deplorable’’.

‘‘I think that the British Government needs to come out and say that the UDA ceasefire is over,’’ he said. ‘‘That is absolutely vital.

‘‘John Reid, I think, made a fool of himself yesterday, I have to say.

‘‘He needs to come out today against the backdrop of what happened in Lurgan last night and say that the UDA ceasefire is over.

‘‘As far as I am concerned, there is no difference whatsoever and you all know this between the UDA, the Red Hand Defenders, the Orange Volunteers or the LVF (Loyalist Volunteer Force).

‘‘There is no difference whatsoever and the nationalist community in the North know that.

‘‘It is time for the nonsense to stop. The British should be honest enough to say the UDA ceasefire is over.

"They should be then give leadership to many good people in the unionist community who I believe will stand up and put pressure on these organisations to stop their activities.’’