Feuding loyalist gangs 'targeting innocent victims'

Loyalist paramilitary killers locked in a deadly feud are switching their sights to innocent victims because police have disrupted assassination attempts, a top Belfast officer said tonight.

Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland revealed there have been nearly 20 attempted shootings and bombings in the vicious turf war that has claimed four lives so far.

Faced with a barrage of criticism over police response to the Ulster Volunteer Force’s dispute with the splinter Loyalist Volunteer Force, he also disclosed that more than 160 extra officers have been drafted in to try to halt the violence.

He pledged: “I will do what I have to do to make the streets of Belfast safe. I will put whatever I have to put into this. The money doesn’t count.”

In the latest murder, father-of-three Michael Green was ambushed and shot dead on Monday as he arrived for work at a furniture store in South Belfast.

The UVF, which has carried out all four killings as part of a campaign to wipe out its despised rivals, claimed Mr Green was associated with the LVF.

But Mr McCausland stressed that the victim had no paramilitary connections and had not been identified by police intelligence as a potential target.

Others who may be involved in the feud have been warned about possible attacked in a bid to disrupt further loyalist assassinations, he confirmed.

Mr McCausland said that because of the police strategy against those carrying out the attacks, “they have broadened their catchment.

“It’s a demonstration of the police response and disruption of what’s going on that they have had to target Mr Green.

"They appear to be targeting, in their own small-minded way, people they think reflect the organisation they are attacking.

“But this feud, if you want to call it a feud, is down to criminal paramilitary gangs inflicting murderous attacks on their communities. By having to move away from what the community might feel are the main targets, I can say with confidence, we have saved people’s lives in the last six weeks.”

Since the struggle for control of the drugs and racketeering trade erupted into an all-out shooting war, police have listed 18 planned murder attempts, bombings or shootings. Twelve have been attributed to the UVF and six to the LVF.

“That’s not to minimise the fact that four people have lost their lives,” said Mr McCausland.

“But I’m putting significant numbers of police into this. There are over 160 additional police resources deployed specifically and military have been put into five separate districts.”

The police chief revealed the scale of the forces’ operation in response to withering criticisms that not enough had been done to end the killing and intimidation.

Senior Ulster Unionist representative Michael McGimpsey claimed officers were effectively allowing the two factions to sort out their dispute without interference. Previous police command teams would have done more to capture the killers, he said.

Mr McCausland rejected this assessment, pointing to the 90 house searches and 20 arrests – 10 where charges were pressed – as evidence of his officers’ determination.

He added: “The community needs to help us to ensure that no one loses their lives, it’s within their power to come up to the mark. A lot of people have done an awful lot, but people can do more.

“It seems to be easy to blame the police for not doing enough, but we’re doing our full part and will continue to do our full part. It’s up to the political leaders, church representatives and community workers to do their bit.”

British government officials were tonight keeping in close contact with community leaders in loyalist circles in a bid to bring the ongoing violence to an end.

Ministers were also in close contact with the PSNI and security officials.

A Northern Ireland Office spokesman said Secretary of State Peter Hain had made clear from the outset of the current outbreak of violent killing that it was “gangsterism masquerading as loyalism”.

He added: “What is important at this time is bringing an end to this violence and intimidation through effective policing and the PSNI deserve the support of the whole communit, especially in loyalist areas at this time,” he added.

The PSNI had already arrested 20 people and charged 10 of them and conducted over 90 searchers, said the government spokesman.

Anyone with any information about violent attacks and murders should make it known to the police immediately, he said.

“Northern Ireland Office officials continue to be in close contact with community leaders in loyalism to try to bring this ongoing violence to an end. Ministers also remain in close contact with the PSNI and security officials.”