Murphy in talks with police over loyalist feud

Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy today arranged talks with the North’s most senior policeman amid fears about the escalating loyalist feud.

The talks between Mr Murphy and Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Hugh Orde followed an explosion early today at a flat in the Beech End area of Holywood, Co Down.

A man and a woman inside the flat escaped injury but the front door and porch were damaged.

The roof tiles of a neighbouring flat were also damaged.

There has been a series of incidents in East Belfast following the shooting dead of leading Loyalist Volunteer Force member Brian Stewart exactly a week ago.

The LVF is an offshoot of the Ulster Volunteer Force, which split from the organisation and was formerly led by Billy Wright. There has traditionally been deep animosity between both factions.

In recent days there has been a series of explosions blamed on the rival groups.

A blast bomb attack occurred at a house in London Road in East Belfast yesterday, causing considerable damage but injuring nobody.

A nail bomb was discovered today at the back of an empty house in the loyalist Ballydeen estate on the outskirts of the city.

Shots were also fired at the same house in Longstone Drive at the weekend.

A Northern Ireland Office spokesman said Mr Murphy would be joined by the Security Minister Ian Pearson at today’s meeting at Stormont Castle.

“They will be discussing the ongoing series of attacks in Belfast,” he said.