Murphy urges loyalists to choose politics over gangsterism

Northern Secretary Paul Murphy has told loyalists in Belfast that they must choose between gangsterism and politics.

Speaking in Dublin today, Mr Murphy said he was "horrified" by the ongoing feud between the mainstream UDA and its former west Belfast commander, Johnny Adair.

"People in loyalist communities do have a choice," he said. "They can either choose the gansterism that we have seen in the last number of days, or they can choose political loyalism . . . Gangsterism masquerading as loyalist is something we cannot tolerate in Northern Ireland."

Meanwhile, a Presbyterian minister has used the funeral of UDA commander John Gregg to call for an end to feuding and drug-dealing among loyalist paramilitaries.

The Rev Mervyn Gibson, speaking at Mr Gregg's graveside, said: "Our communities have suffered enough: enough of internal and external feuds, enough of drug abuse that pollutes the lives of young people, enough of loyalism which owes its allegiance to the half-crown rather than the communities it claims to defend and represent."

Rev Gibson said Mr Gregg, the UDA's commander in south-east Antrim, had told him last Friday that it was time to end the fighting.