02/11/2007
UDA Decommissioning Fuels Internal Divisions
A limited number of loyalist weapons have been destroyed in a move overseen by the international decommissioning body.
The small number of guns was handed over by members of the beleaguered South East Antrim faction of the Ulster Defence Association, angering the mainstream UDA leadership, which did not sanction the move and which has branded the story as "manufactured by people intent on causing division".
It has also emerged that many of the faction's own members were not even told it was happening.
The weapons were destroyed at the Ballykinlar Army base in County Down on Saturday.
"Members of the South East Antrim faction of the UDA were present, however, many of its membership were not consulted and it is understood some are deeply unhappy about it.
"Some have even described the minor act of decommissioning as "treason," said BBC journalist, Chris Buckler, who has reported the story.
The South East Antrim faction broke away from the rest of the UDA some months ago and the two sides have been feuding since then.
"It is clear, however, that this is not being viewed as the start of UDA decommissioning and what was destroyed accounts for only a small number of the South East Antrim faction's weapons," he continued.
Decommissioning of paramilitary weapons is overseen by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning.
(BMcC)
The small number of guns was handed over by members of the beleaguered South East Antrim faction of the Ulster Defence Association, angering the mainstream UDA leadership, which did not sanction the move and which has branded the story as "manufactured by people intent on causing division".
It has also emerged that many of the faction's own members were not even told it was happening.
The weapons were destroyed at the Ballykinlar Army base in County Down on Saturday.
"Members of the South East Antrim faction of the UDA were present, however, many of its membership were not consulted and it is understood some are deeply unhappy about it.
"Some have even described the minor act of decommissioning as "treason," said BBC journalist, Chris Buckler, who has reported the story.
The South East Antrim faction broke away from the rest of the UDA some months ago and the two sides have been feuding since then.
"It is clear, however, that this is not being viewed as the start of UDA decommissioning and what was destroyed accounts for only a small number of the South East Antrim faction's weapons," he continued.
Decommissioning of paramilitary weapons is overseen by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning.
(BMcC)
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29 June 2009
UVF Guns, Ammo And Bombs 'Beyond Use'
The haul of weapons decommissioned by the UVF and Red Hand Commandos included guns, ammunition and explosives, it has been revealed. However, independent observers - who described the cache as a "major decommissioning event" - have not said how many weapons were actually given up.
UVF Guns, Ammo And Bombs 'Beyond Use'
The haul of weapons decommissioned by the UVF and Red Hand Commandos included guns, ammunition and explosives, it has been revealed. However, independent observers - who described the cache as a "major decommissioning event" - have not said how many weapons were actually given up.
05 February 2009
Loyalist Guns In Focus As Peace Broker Remembered
As leading loyalist figures joined mourners at the funeral of a 'peace-broker' clergyman yesterday, the focus of attention was again turning to weapons' decommissioning. The Rev Roy Magee, who was buried on Wednesday, was a key figure in helping to broker the loyalist paramilitary ceasefires in the mid-1990s.
Loyalist Guns In Focus As Peace Broker Remembered
As leading loyalist figures joined mourners at the funeral of a 'peace-broker' clergyman yesterday, the focus of attention was again turning to weapons' decommissioning. The Rev Roy Magee, who was buried on Wednesday, was a key figure in helping to broker the loyalist paramilitary ceasefires in the mid-1990s.
12 November 2007
UDA Keeps Its Guns
There’s to be no decommissioning of the loyalist Ulster Defence Association’s weapons even though it has claimed to have ‘stood down’ part of its organisation, the Ulster Freedom Fighters. A statement from the UDA’s ‘military wing’ the UFF said that its weapons were being put beyond use, but stressed this did not mean they would be decommissioned.
UDA Keeps Its Guns
There’s to be no decommissioning of the loyalist Ulster Defence Association’s weapons even though it has claimed to have ‘stood down’ part of its organisation, the Ulster Freedom Fighters. A statement from the UDA’s ‘military wing’ the UFF said that its weapons were being put beyond use, but stressed this did not mean they would be decommissioned.
24 November 2008
Shoukri Death, 'Not Suspicious'
A former leading UDA figure has died suddenly. Thirty-four-year-old Ihab Shoukri died in Newtownabbey on Saturday night after what it is believed to have been a drug overdose. Police have confirmed that the body of a man believed to be the north Belfast terror boss was found over the weekend at a house in the Grainon Way area of Newtownabbey.
Shoukri Death, 'Not Suspicious'
A former leading UDA figure has died suddenly. Thirty-four-year-old Ihab Shoukri died in Newtownabbey on Saturday night after what it is believed to have been a drug overdose. Police have confirmed that the body of a man believed to be the north Belfast terror boss was found over the weekend at a house in the Grainon Way area of Newtownabbey.
20 February 2003
UDA bomb move 'not an act of decommissioning'
Police last night discovered 18 pipe bombs on playing fields at Somerdale Park in the Crumlin Road area of north Belfast. The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) claimed it left the devices in the playing fields "as part of the ongoing steps to stabilise and normalise loyalist west Belfast".
UDA bomb move 'not an act of decommissioning'
Police last night discovered 18 pipe bombs on playing fields at Somerdale Park in the Crumlin Road area of north Belfast. The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) claimed it left the devices in the playing fields "as part of the ongoing steps to stabilise and normalise loyalist west Belfast".
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.