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Cardinal and loyalists in meeting Loyalist meeting 'significant'
(19 minutes later)
The head of the Catholic church in Ireland and loyalists connected to the paramilitary UDA have held face-to-face talks for the first time.The head of the Catholic church in Ireland and loyalists connected to the paramilitary UDA have held face-to-face talks for the first time.
Cardinal Sean Brady met an Ulster Political Research Group delegation at his private residence in Armagh.Cardinal Sean Brady met an Ulster Political Research Group delegation at his private residence in Armagh.
Cardindal Brady said the meeting had been "highly significant." Cardinal Brady said the meeting had been "highly significant."
UPRG spokesman Frankie Gallagher said they were working towards making loyalist weapons "a thing of the past". He said he was encouraged by an assurance given by the UPRG that there would be "no going back to the past."
Reading a statement after the meting he said : "We conveyed to the UPRG the real fear that exists within the Catholic community about the possibility of future violent activity by Loyalist groups.
"We appreciate and are greatly encouraged by the assurance given by the UPRG today that together we are building a new future.
"There is no going back.
"The only viable future for Northern Ireland is a totally peaceful and reconciled future based on mutual respect and a shared commitment to peaceful and democratic means of dealing with age-old political differences.
"Our meeting today with the UPRG is, in my view, a reason to be hopeful about the future."