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UDA 'shot officer' during rioting Loyalists told to hand over guns
(about 6 hours later)
The UDA was responsible for shooting a police officer during the summer, a report is expected to say. Loyalist paramilitaries must decommission to prove they are serious about ending violence, the Northern Ireland secretary has said.
The Independent Monitoring Commission is also expected to suggest many UDA members remain involved in a wide range of criminality, including drug dealing. Shaun Woodward was speaking after the latest report by the Independent Monitoring Commission.
However, the paramilitary ceasefire watchdog will also say it believes the UDA leadership is serious about ending violence and crime. It said there was no early prospect of contact between the UDA and arms body leading to weapons being destroyed.
The report, due later, covers the six-month period to the end of August. The rival UVF said in May it was putting weapons beyond reach - but was not handing them over.
That means last month's killing of south Armagh man Paul Quinn in a County Monaghan barn, along with allegations that IRA members were involved, will feature in the commission's next report. Mr Woodward said he recognised that there were some loyalist leaders who are trying to move their communities out of conflict.
However, its report on Wednesday will focus on a number of incidents linked to the loyalist paramilitary group. "As the report makes clear, decommissioning is the test by which anyparamilitary organisation must ultimately expect to be judged," he said.
In July, a police officer was shot in Carrickfergus as rival UDA factions were involved in a stand-off. The report said there was no prospect of the UDA destroying arms
Days later in Bangor, police also came under attack during rioting after carrying out searches on the mainly loyalist Kilcooley estate. "As with the Provisional IRA, ultimately loyalists will be judged by what theydo, not by what they say.
The two incidents led to Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie issuing her ultimatum to the UDA to give up its guns or lose out on funding for a conflict transformation project. "I urge both the UVF and the UDA to demonstrate courage and leadership to takethe next vital step."
The four-member commission confirmed the UDA was involved in clasheswith a rival faction in Carrickfergus in July and said it had to bear responsibility forthe wounding of a police officer in a gun attack.
UDA members, it also said, took part in serious rioting which erupted in Augustin the loyalist Kilcooley estate in Bangor following police raids.
The organisation was blamed for other attacks including the petrol bombing inBallymena of premises occupied by two Polish nationals.
Despite efforts by the leadership to discourage involvement in crime, membersalso engaged between 1 March and 31 August in drug dealing, loan sharking andthe sale of counterfeit goods.
Up to 200 people were involved in summer rioting in Bangor
Turning to the IRA, Mr Woodward welcomed the assessment by the ceasefire watchdog that the organisation remained committed to a stable and peaceful path.
The commission said: "Some members in some areas have not entirely moved on from theview that dealing with anti-social behaviour is appropriately mediated bythreats and social exclusion, as a form of community control, rather than byproper human rights compliant community policing.
"That said, we remain of the firm view that the organisation is fullycommitted to the political path and will not be diverted from it."
The report covers the six-month period to the end of August.
Last month's killing of south Armagh man Paul Quinn in a County Monaghan barn, along with allegations that IRA members were involved, will feature in the commission's next report.