Minister forced to quit Loyalist Commission

A Presbyterian minister was forced to stand down today as chairman of the Loyalist Commission.

The Rev Mervyn Gibson was asked to leave his post following a meeting of the umbrella group, which includes members of the Ulster Volunteer Force, Red Hand Commando and the Ulster Defence Association.

The body is also made up of clerical and community representatives.

It is understood some members of the commission had reservations about a Northern Ireland Office initiative in which the minister was involved, which would include the Orange Order and nationalist residents’ groups.