Order withdrawing UDA funds not carried out

The official order withdrawing British Government funding from the UDA has not yet been carried out, it emerged today.

The decision was made on Tuesday by Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie due to the loyalist paramilitary group's failure to decommission and end criminality.

However, her department has not yet sent any information to the UDA-run Conflict Transformation Initiative, which was supposed to receive more than £1m (€1.4m) from London.

The group is expected to seek a judicial review of Ms Ritchie's decision, but is unable to lodge court papers until its gets official confirmation of the order withdrawing the money.

Yesterday, the minister said that it was her understanding that her orders were being carried out.

The DUP says it believes Ms Ritchie's move is illegal, while senior civil servants are also said to be concerned.