British govt ceases to recognise UVF ceasefire
Tuesday, 13 September 2005 23:27
The British government has ceased to recognise the UVF ceasefire.
From midnight, the UVF and the Red Hand Commando, another organisation linked to loyalist paramilitary activity, are being specified.
The decision has been taken following a review by the Northern Secretary, Peter Hain.
It follows several days of loyalist street violence and a bitter feud between the UVF and the LVF that has claimed four lives.
The British government is continuing to recognise the UDA ceasefire.
There had been allegations that UDA members were involved in recent rioting, but today the UDA in north Belfast called on its members not to get involved in disturbances.
Prior to tonight's announcement, the leader of the Progressive Unionist Party, which is linked to the UVF, said the move was 'hardly unexpected'. David Ervine said the decision was nevertheless 'tragic'.
Earlier tonight, homeward bound commuters leaving Belfast faced fresh disruption by protests on main routes out of the city.
The loyalist protests, all reported by police to be peaceful, were more limited than yesterday evening.
Over 30 police officers were injured and 63 arrests were made in recent street disturbances across the North.
The PSNI has said that ten officers were injured in last night's violence. Police officers were attacked with petrol bombs and firework-type devices in the Cambrai Street and Crumlin Road areas.
A number of cars were set alight and a pipe bomb was dealt with by British army experts.
Following criticism from Northern Ireland Chief Constable Hugh Orde and others, the Orange Order is preparing to issue a response to how it reacted to the violence.
Earlier, the Minister for Justice said true republicans must do more to reach out to the unionist community in Northern Ireland.
Speaking in Dublin, Michael McDowell said the recent violence in and around Belfast would not bring down the Good Friday Agreement.
He said a new vision of Ireland must recognise and respect the orange panel in the Irish Tricolour.
- News At One: Tommie Gorman, Northern Editor, has the latest developments from Northern Ireland following a third night of violence in Belfast and other areas
- Morning Ireland: David Ervine of the PUP discusses the situation and mood in the affected communities
- Morning Ireland: Aoife Kavanagh talks to young residents in flashpoint areas about motivations behind the sectarian violence
- Morning Ireland: Tommie Gorman, Northern Editor, says the atmosphere on the streets of Belfast is tense but calmer that recent nights
- Morning Ireland: Listen to the response of Orange Belfast Grand Master Dawson Bailie to charges that the Orange Order must take some responsibility for the attacks
- Prime Time: Alistair Little, former UVF prisoner, and Denis Bradley, Vice Chairman of the PSNI, discuss the current situation in the North
- Prime Time: Mark Little takes a deeper look at the recent violence that has placed further pressure on the North's peace process
- Nine News: Tommie Gorman, Northern Editor, reports that Northern Secretary, Peter Hain, is due to rule on the status of the UVF & UDA's ceasefires tomorrow
- Six One News: Tommie Gorman, Northern Editor, talks to Tommy Kirkham of the Ulster Political Research Group, which provides political analysis for the UDA
- Six One News: Michael Fisher reports on the fallout from three nights of violence in Belfast and elsewhere in Northern Ireland
