Bomb explodes as loyalist feud escalates

Fears were mounting today over an escalating loyalist feud following a second bomb attack in east Belfast in 24 hours.

A blast bomb exploded outside a house in the Ballyhackamore area shattering windows in a number of houses.

No one was injured in the explosion at Evelyn Avenue and a second device was later found and made safe by army bomb experts.

The overnight explosion came after an early hours bombing in the same area in which two houses were damaged and a 70-year-old man treated for shock.

Police confirmed they were examining possible links between the two bombings which followed the murder of a man in east Belfast earlier in the week.

The bombings and the murder have been blamed on the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force as part of a developing feud with the Loyalist Volunteer Force.

There is a history of feuding between the two groups. The LVF was created in 1996 by Billy Wright as a break-away from the UVF.

He was later shot dead by republicans inside the Maze Prison.

The UVF murder last week of Brian Stewart came as tensions in a turf war between the two groups intensified.

The bombings have been condemned by Ulster Secretary Paul Murphy as senseless acts of violence.

East Belfast Alliance Party Assembly member Naomi Long today expressed anger at those responsible for the latest upsurge in violence.

She demanded meetings with Security Minister Ian Pearson and police chiefs to discuss the deteriorating situation and what resources were going to be deployed to stop the spiral of violence.

Speaking after the latest bombing Ms Long said: “This was yet another reckless and indiscriminate attack with put the lives of the entire local community at risk.”

It was carried out by people with “murderous and destructive intent” and was to be utterly condemned.

She added: “As a local resident, I am aware of the growing fear throughout East Belfast at the alarming escalation of violence and serious paramilitary incidents in the area.

“This madness needs to stop now.”

The effects of paramilitary feuding in other parts of the city had resulted in “whole communities terrorised and brought to their knees by thugs and gangsters. Is this really what these people want to inflict on the innocent people of east Belfast?

“Decent people in East Belfast are sick and tired of paramilitarism and violence. These people need to get off their backs and let them live their lives in peace.

Meanwhile it was reported today that Johnny ’Mad Dog’ Adair was being groomed to take over the leadership of the LVF when he is released from jail next year.

The deposed Shankill Road Ulster Defence Association chief has been in talks with leading lights in the LVF who are ready to put him in charge of the hardline group on his release, it was claimed.

Adair was given early release from prison, where he was serving a sentence for directing terrorism, under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

But he was returned to jail to serve out his sentence at the height of a bitter feud within the UDA which saw several people shot dead and eventually led to his faction – including wife Gina – fleeing Northern Ireland.

Mrs Adair has since set up home in Bolton where her 19-year-old son Jonathan - known as Mad Pup – has since been jailed for five years for drug dealing.