Loyalists hail 'historic' meeting with Ahern

Loyalist paramilitary representatives tonight hailed their first meeting with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern as historic and said many more may follow.

Members of the Ulster Political Research Group emerged from Government Buildings in Dublin after a hour-long meeting they described as amicable.

The five-man delegation, including the Ulster Defence Association’s South Belfast Commander Jackie McDonald, were then whisked back to Belfast.

Spokesman Tommy Kirkham said the state of the UDA ceasefire and the dispute involving loyalist prisoners in Maghaberry Prison, Co Antrim were discussed during the meeting.

“It certainly was historic, we came down and voiced the concerns of the loyalist community to the Taoiseach,” he said.

“He said he would work with us in the future and today is only the start of a whole series of meetings and we hope to be back in Dublin again to meet the taoiseach in a few weeks time.”

The Newtownabbey councillor said Mr Ahern vowed to keep them up-to-date with developments in the upcoming review of the Good Friday Agreement, which is due to start on February 3.

“What he said and (what) we have stressed in the past (is) that we have a part to play in the review and we will be kept informed,” he said.

Mr Kirkham also dismissed any criticism of his group’s decision to visit Dublin and said he had asked Mr Ahern to support their calls for a Prison Ombudsman for Northern Ireland to ease the concerns of loyalist prisoners.

“For some months now there seems to be a pandering to the IRA by the British Secretary of State in Northern Ireland and by the British Prime Minister and it’s only but right we bring those concerns to the Taoiseach,” he added.

Mr Ahern said he looked forward to building a constructive relationship with the loyalist community through a series of meetings with their political representatives.

He said he understood that loyalist people often felt they were not being listened to, but he was encouraged by efforts on the ground to maintain stability.

“I have assured them that the Government is ready to assist in any way we can to advance a positive agenda,” he said.

“I stress that progress can only be made when there is peace on the streets and that the use of violence, the threat of violence and involvement in criminality is contrary to the interests of everybody, including the loyalist community itself.”

It is understood the talks with Mr Ahern were arranged after a series of meetings involving President Mary McAleese and her husband, Martin.

Frank McCoubrey, a former deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Castlesreagh councillor Frankie Gallagher and the group‘s prisoners‘ spokesman Stanley Fletcher completed the talks team.

The validity of the UDA ceasefire has been called into question recently after it was blamed for recent hoax bombs across Belfast and attacks on prison officers‘ homes.

The group said the incidents were linked to the situation at Maghaberry prison where loyalist prisoners involved in a campaign for segregation from republicans were behind serious disturbances.

It has claimed republican prisoners have been treated more favourably than loyalists.

The North's Secretary Paul Murphy is due to meet the group next Monday.

However, he has insisted he would use his meeting to put across the message that pipe bombs and politics do not mix.

The UDA ceasefire has not been recognised since October 2001 when the then Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid declared it over following a series of sectarian pipe bombings and murders.