Murphy plans to talks to keep marches peaceful

The British government today announced plans for new talks with a body that includes loyalist paramilitaries in a bid to stop Northern Ireland plunging into a summer of violence.

Buoyed by his success in negotiating a peaceful marching season 12 months ago, Northern Secretary Paul Murphy wants to meet political leaders and influential community representatives on all sides in Belfast.

Tensions have been rising on the city’s streets since a ceasefire watchdog’s damning assessment of paramilitary violence enraged the terror bosses.

The main loyalist organisations have threatened to walk away from peaceline negotiations crucial to fending off the threat of sectarian violence.

Feuding paramilitaries may also launch a new killing spree after a top terrorist was shot dead in east Belfast yesterday.

Brian Stewart, aged 34, murdered as he drove to work, was a senior member of the Loyalist Volunteer Force.

But Mr Murphy and his Security Minister Ian Pearson are set to call for meetings with the Loyalist Commission, an umbrella group including churchmen, politicians and paramilitary chiefs, in order to keep the peace.

He said: “I want to encourage everyone to make the effort, once again, to work positively for the benefit of both their own communities and of the wider community.

“I intend to hold a series of meetings, as we did last year, with all of those who have the ability to help bring about the peaceful summer on our streets that everyone wants.”

Those talks will involve both the Loyalist Commission and the Ulster Political Research Group, which advises Northern Ireland’s biggest Protestant terror organisation, the Ulster Defence Association.

British government officials insisted they were willing to work with anyone prepared to keep order on the streets.

“We have always said we will be happy to talk to people who have demonstrated an attempt to follow the political path and are prepared to encourage others to do so,” a Northern Ireland Office spokesman said.

Mr Murphy’s predecessor, John Reid, broke new ground when he met with feared terror boss Johnny “Mad Dog” Adair at a church in east Belfast.

Although the notorious marching season was last year freed from the rioting, Mr Murphy will want reassurances from loyalists that they are not planning to go back on the rampage.

Senior figures within the UDA, the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Red Hand Commando have already warned they could quit crucial negotiations along Belfast’s interfaces unless the Independent Monitoring Commission says it was wrong to criticise them.

Mr Murphy warned against complacency setting in.

“I am confident that working together, and with the active goodwill of all sides, we can succeed,” said Mr Murphy.