UDA 'sticking up treasury with cash demands'

Loyalist terrorist godfathers in the North are trying to hold the British treasury to ransom with demands for a financial package, it was claimed today.

As Northern Ireland Office Minister David Hanson prepared to meet representatives of the Ulster Defence Association at Stormont later today, SDLP Assembly member John Dallat launched a scathing attack on the British government, accusing it of offering sweeteners to loyalist and republican elements.

Urging Northern Secretary Peter Hain to reject UDA demands for a financial package in return for the abandonment of paramilitarism and criminality, Mr Dallat said: “The Brigadiers (of the UDA) have moved up from extorting sweetie shops and building sites to sticking up the treasury.

“There are several good reasons why they should be told in no uncertain terms where to go.”

The East Derry MLA added: “There must be some sort of morality scale in public policy.

“Handing money to the UDA is a massive slap in the face for the victims of violence in general and the victims of the UDA in particular.

“Unfortunately, it fits neatly into the Northern Ireland Office approach of buying off sectional interests one by one with shady side deals sweetened by taxpayers’ money.”