LVF contact confident of early arms hand-over

The Loyalist Volunteer Force contact with the independent disarmament body in the North is still confident the paramilitary group will begin decommissioning before Christmas, despite some confusion over whether the LVF has clearance to hand over weapons.

Pastor Kenny McClinton, contact officer for the LVF with Gen John de Chastelain's decommissioning body, said last night he had "no need to doubt" the LVF would meet its commitment to begin decommissioning before Christmas.

But he would not comment on reports the decommissioning commission had issued the LVF with arms movement immunity certificates to allow the group transport weapons without fear of arrest, charge or conviction.

The immunity certificates were one method of allowing the transport of weapons for destruction that the commission has considered.

The commission has so far refused to comment on reports from security and LVF sources such certificates were issued to the loyalist group.

LVF mid-Ulster sources said immunity certificates had been issued to allow the imminent hand-over of some LVF arms.

In mid-November the LVF said it planned to hand over some weapons but it postponed this because it took offence at comments by Mr Ken Maginnis of the Ulster Unionist Party in which he described the LVF as "ruthless and sectarian killers".

The LVF also took umbrage at his remark where he wondered whether "having achieved its objective of getting its prisoners released in return for decommissioning, we shall see the LVF resume violence."

There was further confusion over the issue last night when the BBC reported the immunity certificates for the LVF had been "rescinded".

But LVF sources said the first immunity certificate issued in mid-November expired in recent days, but the decommissioning body had issued a new certificate to allow for some disarmament within the next fortnight.