Alleged dealers on UVF death list

A FRONT for the UVF has copied the actions of the IRA and compiled its own death list of alleged drug dealers, according to Families Against Intimidation and Terror (FAIT).

It was also learned yesterday that Direct Action Against Drugs, viewed as a cover for the IRA, has threatened the life of the owner of a nightclub where a teenager died after taking ecstasy at a rave dance last year.

FAIT had planned to present two self confessed petty criminals from Antrim and Ballymena who are on the loyalist list at a press conference in Belfast yesterday, but FAIT'S founder, Ms Nancy Gracey, said recent killings made them too frightened to appear.

Ms Gracey said that the Protestant Action Force (PAF), a cover name for the UVF, had issued death threats against nine men and one woman, Protestants and Catholics, in the Ballymena and Antrim areas, for allegedly dealing in drugs.

FAIT had a copy of the list and was satisfied of its authenticity, she added. Last year FAIT also received an IRA death list of 14 people allegedly involved in the drugs trade.

In May the PAF threatened to kill five people in Larne for alleged drugs dealing, but it lifted its threat after the British government warned that such action would jeopardise talks between the British and the Progressive Unionist Party.

Ms Gracey called for public demonstrations against the recent killings. So far this year the IRA had murdered six alleged dealers, and the issuing of the loyalist death list made it all the more urgent for the public to loudly voice their opposition to the attacks and threats, said Ms Gracey.

Meanwhile, the owner of the Arena nightclub in Armagh, Mr Donal Gorman, has decided to abandon Saturday night raves at the club after the Direct Action group ordered him to close the club by December 20th last.

Last summer, Sharon Giles (19), from Seskinore, Omagh, Co Tyrone. died after taking ecstasy at his club. Mr Gorman, however, has been praised by the RUC for his co operation in tackling the drugs trade in and around his club.

Police have told Mr Gorman to take the threats seriously.

He has decided that the usual Saturday night raves at the Arena will in future revert to disco type dances. "In the light of what has been happening recently. I find the threats terrifying. But my commitments are such that I just can't shut down the nightclub he said yesterday.

"The public perception is that if we don't play that kind of music [ravel, then we won't have a drugs problem. And if that is what the public is demanding we will change the music and see."