McGuinness: UDA should take responsibility after loyalist riot

The Ulster Defence Association must shoulder the responsibility to de-escalate tensions within its community, Martin McGuinness said today.

After a night of violence on a loyalist housing estate in Bangor, Co Down, resulted in police firing six plastic bullets, the Stormont Deputy First Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern expressed concern about the rioting.

As they opened a cross-border road link near Newry, Mr McGuinness said: “I think it was utterly disgraceful and I think it has to be unreservedly condemned by everyone.

“I think it is quite clear from the way in which events moved forward that it was organised. So there is a responsibility here on the UDA to recognise that this is unacceptable behaviour and that they have a responsibility to de-escalate situations that may occur within society.

“Of course, if people have complaints about the activities of the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) in terms of how they go about searching houses for drugs and so forth, as appears to be the case, then they should make those complaints to the Police Ombudsman.

“Nuala O’Loan has an enormous credibility within society and I would urge people who might feel they have justifiable complaints about how raids take place to make those complaints to her.

“But what happened on the streets – using guns, using violence against citizens and against policemen – is totally and utterly unacceptable.

“We are in a totally new dispensation and people here who are involved in that sort of activity must join with the rest of us in moving forward to build a better future for everyone.”