The Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, has called on the leaders of rival loyalist factions to get together to end the feud that has left three people dead in recent weeks, writes Monika Unsworth. The feud between the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Ulster Defence Association/Ulster Freedom Fighters erupted again on Shankill Road, Belfast, on Tuesday night when a blast bomb was thrown at the house of Mr Billy Hutchinson, MLA for the Progressive Unionist Party, which represents the UVF. Mr Hutchinson blamed the UDA for the attack.
Yesterday residents of Cosbie Street, off the Shankill Road, said they were forced out of their homes by UDA supporters.
PUP representatives met members of the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP), who represents the UFF/UDA last week in an effort to settle the feud but the PUP leader, Mr David Ervine, yesterday admitted the talks "had not worked" and claimed there were a "fair amount of people who don't want them to work". Mr Ervine described the attack on Mr Hutchinson's home as "totally deplorable".
A leading member of the UDP, Mr John White, yesterday said representatives of the UVF and UDA should meet, as this was more likely to get results than talks between their political representatives. He said "everybody I speak to wants it to stop before any more damage is done and more lives are lost". Last night the wife of Jackie Coulter, who was shot dead by the UVF some weeks ago, said she had left her north Belfast home after receiving threats.
The RUC was last night investigating a bomb attack on a taxi depot in Joanmount Gardens in loyalist north Belfast. A crude nail bomb exploded outside the premises at 8.45 p.m. No injuries or damage were reported.
loyalist feud.