Unionist leaders have been slammed over their "silence" after a statement published in the Loyalist magazine revealed the UDA still exists.

The statement said: "The UDA are still in existence and won't be leaving any stage whilst Republicans of any faction still exist."

Sinn Féin MLA Chris Hazzard said their silence on the existence of the UDA is in contrast "deafening".

He said: "Political unionism's leaders have been at pains recently to attempt to justify, with much faux outrage, their walk-out from their Executive responsibilities.

"They cynically used the brutal murders of two men in Belfast Jock Davison and Kevin McGuigan by criminals to engage in an inter-unionist electoral rivalry.

"This is the same UDA which murdered Brian McIlhagga earlier this year and which has continued its involvement in pipe bombings, intimidation, arson, drug dealing and extortion over the past number of years.

"This is the same organisation, which nailed a man's hands to a table in July.

"Perhaps that's why there are no statements or social media posts from the DUP or UUP on the UDA's continued existence or maybe it's just they don’t care when it comes to unionist paramilitaries."

(CD/LM)