Reid discusses tensions with loyalists

Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid was expected to meet senior loyalists in Belfast today to discuss growing sectarian tensions in the city.

Freed paramilitary leader Johnny Adair was to be among those at a gathering of church and community representatives in the east of the city, sources have confirmed.

The meeting was coming two days before Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern are due in Hillsborough, Co Down, on Thursday for discussions on the peace process.

A government source said: ‘‘Dr Reid is happy to meet anyone, but the message will be unambiguous: ‘Anybody associated with violence will be told it has to stop’.’’

Members of the Loyalist Commission, an umbrella group made up of paramilitary, political and church figures, were attending today’s event in the East Belfast Mission on the Newtownards Road.

Leading figures in the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Ulster Defence Association whose ceasefire was declared invalid by Dr Reid sit on the body.

Set up to broker agreement between the feuding loyalist paramilitary organisations, the commission has also initiated moves aimed at quelling serious street violence.

But a no-first strike move it agreed to at sectarian flashpoints has been treated with scorn by nationalist communities who claim loyalists are still inciting trouble.

With tensions still running dangerously high, the Orange Order was today set to appeal against a decision by the Northern Ireland Parades Commission to ban the Drumcree march near Portadown, Co Armagh, for a fifth year running.

Orangemen have been forbidden from walking through the Catholic Garvaghy Road on their return from a church service amid fears for security in the area.

A loyalist source insisted there would be no animosity towards Dr Reid because of his sanctions against the UDA.

He said: ‘‘If people feel it’s a good thing that John Reid is coming into the loyalist community to see people from all different backgrounds that can only be positive whether you agree with him or not.’’