The Church of Ireland primate, Archbishop Robin Eames, today called on loyalist paramilitary groups to disband.
Archbishop Robin Eames
Archbishop Eames's comments echoed weekend demands from the Catholic Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Sean Brady, for the IRA to stand down.
"Let the mounting calls for an end to all paramilitary activity grow and grow," Archbishop Eames told the General Synod the Church of Ireland. "From within the Protestant community let us say to all loyalist groupings - stop, and stop right now."
"Compared with that dark period when hundreds of lives were lost each year through terrorism, we have come a long, long way," said the Archbishop. "But today there are areas of this province where life is dictated by and controlled by the godfathers of paramilitary organisations."
Earlier today, a report from Northern Ireland's Organised Crime Task Force said two-thirds of the 235 criminal gangs in the province were linked to paramilitary groups from both sides.
"Today there is a perception that the political peace process could remain in a vacuum for a long time, and, equally, could become more and more irrelevant to the lives of ordinary people," said Archbishop Eames.
"I cannot overemphasise how dangerous I feel such a situation could be. If we reach a point where a large proportion of our population becomes alienated from . . . legitimate politics then other influences will gain influence in society."