THE extent of the split in the Ulster Volunteer Force was revealed in court yesterday during an unsuccessful bail application by a man alleged to have been involved in a publicity stunt staged by a breakaway group within the paramilitary organisation.
A prosecuting lawyer told the High Court in Belfast that two UVF units in had broken away from the leadership in Belfast.
The lawyer said the split was revealed in a document seized by the RUC when it intercepted two cars at Annahilt, Co Down, on August 21st.
Mr Alex Kerr, from Portadown, whom the UVF has threatened to kill along with Mr Billy Wright, was in one of the ears. The second, which also contained four journalists, was being driven by Mr George Milliken (27), from Dromore, Co Down.
Mr Milliken, Mr Kerr and the other driver, Mr Stephen Lunn, also from Dromore, were arrested and later remanded in custody on a charge of helping to organise a meeting in support of a proscribed organisation.
Opposing Mr Milliken's application for bail, the lawyer said the journalists had earlier been driven to a farm at Donaghcloney, Co Down, where they took film and photographs of nine masked men who were carrying guns.
One of the masked men read out a statement defying the orders of the leadership. He said that after widespread consultations with officers and volunteers of Mid-Ulster Brigade, it had been decided that no units of the brigade would disband.
The statement went on: "To weaken the defence of our people and the UVF at a time when all that manifests itself British is being threatened and diminished is viewed with great suspicion."
The lawyer alleged Mr Milliken later drove the journalists to a house at an unknown location where three armed and masked men were present. One of them read out a statement on behalf of South Down UDA expressing support for the Mid-Ulster UVF.
Ten minutes after leaving the second location, the RUC stopped the two cars at Annahilt.
Mr Jim Allister, for Mr Milliken, said it had not been alleged that he was a member of the UVF. "Film was recovered by the police and I understand that it did not show the applicant playing any part other than driving the pressmen," he said.