This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6524169.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| City talks on moving loyalism on | City talks on moving loyalism on |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The UDA's political representatives and PSNI chief constable Sir Hugh Orde are to attend a conference in Belfast. | The UDA's political representatives and PSNI chief constable Sir Hugh Orde are to attend a conference in Belfast. |
| More than 100 delegates are to attend the day-long event on how to move loyalist paramilitaries away from violence and crime. | |
| It will be chaired by former Ulster Bank chairman Sir George Quigley. | It will be chaired by former Ulster Bank chairman Sir George Quigley. |
| It is part of a government-funded plan to move the UDA away from paramilitary activity and crime. The four main churches will also be represented. | It is part of a government-funded plan to move the UDA away from paramilitary activity and crime. The four main churches will also be represented. |
| Under discussion will be problems within loyalist communities and how best to spend the £1.2m the government has given to a project to transform the UDA. | Under discussion will be problems within loyalist communities and how best to spend the £1.2m the government has given to a project to transform the UDA. |
| Sir George Quigley said loyalists were genuine in their attempts to quit crime. | |
| He said: "They are determined to do what they can from within the loyalistcommunity to transform that situation and help create a much more stable andpeaceful society. | |
| "All of us have a stake in the success of what's being attempted. | |
| "We have got to buckle down and see how we can help the constructive elementswithin that society to move forward." | |
| We have been working hard on the ground over the years to free our communities from criminality and there has been some success Frankie GallagherUPRG | |
| BBC Northern Ireland's home affairs correspondent Vincent Kearney said it was the first time loyalists have taken part in such an event. | BBC Northern Ireland's home affairs correspondent Vincent Kearney said it was the first time loyalists have taken part in such an event. |
| "The organisers say it is a sign that they are serious about wanting to change," he said. | "The organisers say it is a sign that they are serious about wanting to change," he said. |
| "The fact that senior civil servants will also attend signals that they also believed they are genuine - but there are many sceptics who have yet to be convinced." | "The fact that senior civil servants will also attend signals that they also believed they are genuine - but there are many sceptics who have yet to be convinced." |
| Barney McGaughey - chairman of west Belfast community organisation Farset - said the workshop was a serious attempt by those within loyalism to engage and improve the lives of the people living within their communities. | Barney McGaughey - chairman of west Belfast community organisation Farset - said the workshop was a serious attempt by those within loyalism to engage and improve the lives of the people living within their communities. |
| The UPRG's Frankie Gallagher said he believed work being done in the communities was making a difference. | The UPRG's Frankie Gallagher said he believed work being done in the communities was making a difference. |
| "The work that we have been doing has added to the political climate that we are enjoying today," he said. | "The work that we have been doing has added to the political climate that we are enjoying today," he said. |
| "Our influence at the interface areas, where we have managed to keep tensions calm, has helped play its part in the process. | "Our influence at the interface areas, where we have managed to keep tensions calm, has helped play its part in the process. |
| "We have been working hard on the ground over the years to free our communities from criminality and there has been some success. | "We have been working hard on the ground over the years to free our communities from criminality and there has been some success. |
| "But there are still challenges that need to be addressed and today's workshop is about facing these challenges head on and working to build a new future not just for loyalist communities, but as part of a new vision for Northern Ireland." | "But there are still challenges that need to be addressed and today's workshop is about facing these challenges head on and working to build a new future not just for loyalist communities, but as part of a new vision for Northern Ireland." |