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Announcement over 'money for UDA' Funding threat over loyalist arms
(about 7 hours later)
An announcement on the future of government funding for loyalist areas is expected to be made later. Government funding of a loyalist initiative is to stop in 60 days unless the UDA starts to decommission arms.
There have been calls for a £1.2m package to be withdrawn following recent violence in Carrickfergus and Bangor associated with the UDA. Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie was referring to money aimed at helping to move the paramilitary organisation away from violence.
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie is expected to make an announcement at Stormont. On Friday, she announced she would not keep supporting the project without clear evidence of decommissioning and reduced criminality.
Her department is responsible for a policy approved by her direct rule predecessor. Recent violence in Carrickfergus and Bangor has been linked to the UDA.
It gives almost £500,000 a year to the Ulster Political Research Group. 'No excuse'
In March, the Northern Ireland Office pledged more than £1m to a project aimed at moving the UDA away from violence. The SDLP's Ms Ritchie said: "There is no excuse now for paramilitarism. It is time for all those who subject their communities to thuggery, extortion and violence, under the pretence of defending them, to get off the stage."
However, even before the recent violence Margaret Ritchie warned that the money would be stopped if the UDA did not decommission its weapons. In March, the Northern Ireland Office pledged more than £1m to the Conflict Transformation Initiative (CTI) project involving the Ulster Political Research Group.
Since then, those weapons have been turned on police officers, first in Carrickfergus then in the Kilcooley estate in Bangor. Margaret Ritchie says the UDA must decommission its arms
Ms Ritchie said the violence had appalled her. The project aims to encourage redevelopment in loyalist communities.
She said she wanted to meet PSNI officers to hear their assessment, but Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde was clear in his view - he said he "would not give the UDA 50p". The Ulster Political Research Group gives political analysis to the UDA.
The Ulster Political Research Group said the money could help transform the UDA into a non-paramilitary group. UPRG spokesman Frankie Gallagher said: "I think what she's saying is there has to be some meaningful engagement with the IICD (Independent International Commission on Decommissioning), etc."
"The good thing is that there is already engagement with the international decommissioning body and there is already meaningful engagement with the IMC (International Monitoring Commission).
"And at least 40 meetings have taken place in the last two to two-and-a-half months with the PSNI working on crime and criminality."
Even before the recent violence Ms Ritchie warned that the money would be stopped if the UDA did not decommission its weapons.
The funding will end 60 days from now unless there is clear and demonstrable evidence Margaret Ritchie
There had been calls for the £1.2m funding to be withdrawn following the trouble.
The minister said the actions of recent days were a "clear breach" of the basis on which funding was awarded.
"The funding will end 60 days from now unless there is clear and demonstrable evidence that the UDA has engaged meaningfully with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning and has started to decommission its weapons," she said.
Mr Ritchie's department is responsible for a policy approved by her direct rule predecessor.
'Real leadership'
Speaking following the announcement, Policing and Justice Minister Paul Goggins said loyalists must "demonstrate real leadership to set their communities free from criminality and the influence of paramilitaries".
Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey accused the social development minister of not showing decisive leadership.
"Two months ago Margaret Ritchie said she was going to stop this funding. Two months on and she is now saying that she is giving them another two months," he said.
Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said while he thought most people within the UDA were committed to peace, the paramilitary group "needed to do more".
Alliance leader David Forde said that Ms Ritchie's ultimatum given to the UDA over its funding was "long overdue".
Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde has previously said he "would not give the UDA 50p".