Minister to meet UDA chiefs over disarmament demands

A Stormont minister will tonight meet loyalists over her demand for Ulster Defence Association disarmament in return for a dedicated fund to develop their neighbourhoods.

Stormont sources said the Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie will come face to face with UDA leader Jackie McDonald over her threat to withdraw £1.2m (€1.7m) in funds earmarked for the conflict transformation initiative if they do not decommission weapons by October 9.

The SDLP minister issued the threat last month after the UDA was blamed for violence in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim and Bangor, Co Down.

The South Down Assembly member warned the UDA: “There is no excuse now for paramilitarism.

“It is time for all those who subject their communities to thuggery, extortion and violence, under the pretence of defending them, to get off the stage.”