Violence continued unabated in Northern Ireland last night despite an announcement yesterday by the loyalist Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) that it had ceased paramilitary attacks. On the political front, there were signs of renewed tension over NorthSouth bodies, which are due for discussion when the multi-party talks move to London for three days from Monday.
There was speculation that the murder of a Catholic workman in a loyalist area near Belfast's Crumlin Road was carried out by the Loyalist Volunteer Force. The dead man was named by security sources last night as Mr Liam Conway (39) from the Belfast area. Mr Conway was laying gas pipes on Hesketh Road when he was shot at close range by a lone gunman. He died later at the Mater Hospital.
The SDLP Lord Mayor, Mr Alban Maginness, said he condemned the killing of this innocent man. He called for calm and urged that there should be no retaliation.
The UFF, a cover-name for the Ulster Defence Association, admitted yesterday in a statement that it had carried out a number of murders in response to attacks by the Irish National Liberation Army. "The current phase of republican aggression by the INLA made a measured military response unavoidable. That response is now concluded," the statement said.
The Northern Secretary, Dr Mowlam, said it was the view of the British and Irish governments that the position of parties such as the Ulster Democratic Party would have to be considered in the light of the activities of their paramilitary associates, in this case the UFF.
"The government views the UFF statement with grave concern. We shall consider its implication very carefully, particularly following yet another callous murder tonight," she said.
Security forces yesterday uncovered 300 lb of explosives, including 100 lb of Powergel, in the Shankill area - said to be the largest-ever explosives find in a loyalist district.
On the talks issue, the Ulster Unionist Party deputy leader, Mr John Taylor, complained that the British and Irish governments had failed to supply background papers for the multi-party talks which had been promised by yesterday. Mr Taylor said he wished to study these papers in advance of next week's talks session at Lancaster House, but now it appeared they would become available "on Monday at the earliest". No party could allow itself to be "bounced into a position" by the delayed release of background papers.
Sources in Dublin said the two governments were "working flat out" on producing documentation to advance the negotiations. There was no question of "bouncing" the parties into anything. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, commenting on the North-South bodies during a visit to Belfast said: "If they were not executive agencies, then they would be seen to have no teeth, and quite frankly, we know it's no good debating this issue. We know that that would not be acceptable."
Meanwhile, four men from Portadown, Co Armagh who are believed to have links with the LVF were detained by police in the Malone area of Belfast, about a mile from the hotel where the Taoiseach was attending a Chamber of Commerce lunch, but there were no indications the two events were connected.
The liaison group of British and Irish officials met at Iveagh House in Dublin on Thursday but failed to achieve an agreed text on the powers and authority of the proposed North-South Ministerial Council. Senior sources said the Irish side had prepared a "prescriptive" paper closely based on the Framework Document but British officials wanted other options more palatable to unionists to be included.
Telephone discussions continued yesterday. Sources said the paper was almost complete and the two sides had agreed to present it as a series of questions. This has caused some concern in the SDLP. The Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, said he was not aware of any "significant" paper being prepared. "There is no document being prepared that has the status of the Propositions on Heads of Agreement." An SDLP spokesman said his party had sought a debate with Sinn Fein on the propositions paper issued two weeks ago. "To date Sinn Fein has rejected over six offers."