Dublin bomb alert `a shot across the bow' by the UDA

A SHOT across the bows but an unlikely official breaking of the loyalist paramilitary ceasefire at least not yet was how one leading loyalist described yesterday's Dublin city centre bomb alert.

He was in no doubt, however, that the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), using its Ulster Freedom Force (UFF) cover name, was sending a serious message to Dublin. The decision to engineer the alert was made at the highest level within the UDA.

"What is striking about the bomb alert is the codeword used. That is only known to a handful of people, less than a dozen, in the central UDA leadership," the source told The Irish Times last night.

The loyalist seemed to be genuinely surprised at the timing of the action. He had talked to some, of the UDA leadership following Sunday morning's bomb in Enniskillen and was satisfied no retaliatory action was planned.

The UDA then appeared to accept the IRA's statement that it was not responsible for the bombing of the Killyhevlin Hotel Garda sources are attributing it to former IRA members linked to Republican Sinn Fein.

"At that time, the UDA leadership decided not to do anything but the situation is so uncertain and fragile now that matters change on a daily basis. "I would not imagine that this spells the end of the UDA ceasefire but it is a very serious warning shot across the bows."

The UDA may be mimicking UVF actions in mid Ulster which last May caused massive disruption with a hoax bomb alert at Dublin Airport. The UVF then warned the Republic would pay "a very high price" for its alleged interference in Northern Ireland affairs.

The timing of yesterday's alert, coming shortly before the Anglo Irish Conference meeting in London which was arranged at the behest of the Government, would indicate that the UDA is transmitting a similar message.

It may also be an attempt to appease fractious hard liners within the UDA. The loyalist source said the recent convulsions in the North have also caused tensions within the UDA. The action could be the UDA leadership assuring its foot soldiers that it is prepared to take firm action when it is warranted.

The Presbyterian minister, the Rev Roy Magee, who helped broker the loyalist ceasefire, yesterday met several UDA prisoners in the Maze Prison. He also expressed surprise at the UDA action. From his contacts yesterday, he was certain the UDA prisoners wanted the ceasefire to continue.

The bomb alert will cause difficulties for the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) which is linked to the UDA. Unionists may now call into question the UDP's commitment to the six Mitchell Principles on democracy and non violence, one of which states political parties must oppose any effort by others to use force.

Just as Sinn Fein will not condemn the IRA for its actions, neither will the UDP condemn the UDA, nor the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) condemn the UVF. This development will mean extra pressure on the UDP to renounce the UDA action.

However, after the UVF Dublin Airport bomb alert, the PUP linked to the UVF, managed to evade most censure. The UDP will be hoping it can also sidestep efforts to have it expelled from the multi party talks.

It is unlikely that this action was authorised by the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC), the umbrella group for the loyalist paramilitaries which also includes the Red Hand Commando. The CLMC in recent months has been fairly dormant.

The UDA, which first came to prominence in 1973, is the largest of the loyalist paramilitaries. Using the UFF name as a flag of convenience, it has been responsible for many murders during the troubles.

It has killed several members of Sinn Fein, including the Donegal councillor, Mr Eddie Fullerton, and targeted the homes of SDLP members, including the West Belfast MP, Dr Joe Hendron. For most of the troubles, the IRA was the largest paramilitary group but the UDA, in the years before the ceasefire, almost matched it for murders. Some of its killings were notable for their sectarian brutality.

The UDA was outlawed by the Northern Secretary in 1992.