North on alert against loyalist backlash

The RUC with British army backup was last night in a state of high alert against any loyalist paramilitary backlash to the ruling by the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, that both the UDA and Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) had broken their ceasefires.

Dr Reid, advised by the RUC chief constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, yesterday declared that the UDA had "systematically breached" its ceasefire, which it called seven years ago today.

Dr Reid made his move against the UDA after Thursday night's violence on the Shankill that he said was "clearly orchestrated" by the loyalist group. Dr Reid made the same ruling against the LVF, which two weeks ago murdered Sunday World journalist Martin O'Hagan. The SDLP and Sinn FΘin welcomed the decision while senior unionists and loyalists said the IRA should also be ruled to have broken its cessation. Dr Reid said all paramilitary ceasefires were "imperfect" but the UDA and LVF breaches were different in "level and nature and scale".

The UDA had been responsible for at least three murders this year, more than 200 gun and bomb attacks on Catholics, police officers and others and, despite a warning from Dr Reid two weeks ago, appeared to have no intention of reducing its sectarian attacks in Belfast, Larne, Coleraine and other areas.

Under his order, former UDA and LVF prisoners can be returned to prison if it is believed they still support these organisations; other suspect UDA or LVF members can be imprisoned on the word of a senior police officer backed up with some corroborative evidence; anyone going to trial for offences carried out before the Belfast Agreement would not be entitled to early release.

Dr Reid acknowledged that his action might not stop the activities of the LVF and UDA. "They may lash out and flaunt their immorality and their contempt for the law. But there is a limit to society's tolerance and that limit has now been reached," he said.

Mr John White, chairman of the Ulster Democratic Party, which is linked to the UDA, said he feared that UDA members could respond violently. "It will send a signal to the vast majority of UDA people who supported the peace process that their contribution is no longer recognised," he warned.

"That might give them a licence to go out and do things they normally would not have done because of the restraints placed on them by that ceasefire."

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said yesterday's decision by Dr Reid should not impede any move that may be under way within the IRA to decommission arms. Sinn FΘin, had "been calling all summer" for action to be taken against loyalist paramilitaries.