Loyalists launch campaign opposed to united Ireland

Loyalists delivered more than 200,000 newspapers today as part of a new campaign urging resistance against an alleged slide towards a united Ireland.

Victims of IRA violence fronted the attempt to rally mass Protestant support, with headlines and posters declaring: “Ulster At Crisis Point”.

But senior loyalist paramilitaries were also at Larne Harbour in County Antrim where the cargo of free newspapers was brought in by boat in a symbolic recreation of a weapons delivery to the old Ulster Volunteer Force on the Clyde Valley ship in 1914.

Campaign organisers, who have also gained the support of Orange Order leaders, insisted this was an alternative to violent protest.

William Wilkinson, of the South Armagh-based group for Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (FAIR), said they would struggle against a security seal down and disbandment of Royal Irish Regiment units through entirely peaceful methods.

He said: “The pen is mightier than the sword and we hope this will provide an alternative to a lot of frustration and deep hurt being felt.”

Organisers pledged to deliver papers right across the North free of charge as part of what they have labelled the Love Ulster Campaign.

A website has also been set up carrying regular news and campaign updates.

The newspaper was put together by the Shankill Mirror, a community organisation based in a West Belfast protestant stronghold.

John MacVicar, a board member of the media organisation, claimed they had simply answered the call of anxious loyalists across the North and were waiting for future instructions about where the project should go next.

Mr MacVicar also insisted that the paramilitaries could not be ignored.

“The reality is that loyalist paramilitaries are part of the protestant community,” he stressed.

“They along with a lot of other people were part of the conflict we have been involved in and they need to be part of the resolution.

“We have come out of 35 years of violence, things aren’t going to change overnight and we need to influence everyone in our community positively and that include loyalist paramilitaries.”

But the campaign also pushed the views of those still coming to terms with the loss of loved ones during the conflict.

Sisters Ashley Graham, 26, and Manya Dickinson, 29, spoke of their hurt at seeing republicans allegedly being rewarded for the IRA’s decision to end its armed struggle.

The Provisionals’ declaration that their war was over provided little comfort to the pair whose father Kenny Graham, a building contractor who supplied security bases, was blown up outside his home in Kilkeel in 1990.

Mrs Dickinson said: “It’s been forgotten about completely, even though we have to live with it every day.”

Her sister insisted there would never be closure for families like them.

She added: “We feel the IRA have gotten away with it. They can get on with their lives but not a day goes by without us having to remember.

“People in our situation are angry and feel something should be done.”

The campaign has pledged to produce future issues of the Shankill Mirror to be distributed across Northern Ireland, and will consider staging rallies if support levels are strong enough.

Even though the loyal marching orders and church representatives were said to be involved, the initiative has steered clear of all unionist politicians as they insisted the emphasis shouldbe on victims.

But Robert Salters, grand master of the Orange Order, declared his total backing for the project. “I would hope that Orange members will support it wholeheartedly,” he said.

“When you look back at the victims within our institution we have grieved 304 members, and half of those weren’t involved in security force work. They were just murdered for being a protestant or an Orangeman.

“I would welcome and hope that if we can get the whole protestant, loyalist people together, that this will be given a great go because we need to stick together.”