PRESIDENT MARY McAleese has greeted reports that the UVF, its sister organisation the Red Hand Commando, and the UDA have begun to decommission their weapons.
Visiting Ardoyne in north Belfast yesterday, the President recognised that such reports remained to be verified by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. But she added the news would “resonate in Ardoyne”.
She said the area “which had suffered so much sectarian division and inter-communal tension” would applaud the removal of loyalist weapons.
Gen John de Chastelain is due to give formal confirmation of loyalist paramilitary decommissioning within days. The head of the international decommissioning body is understood to have witnessed the putting beyond use of most of the UVF’s arsenal and a beginning to the disposal of some UDA weapons.
There is still no official comment from the paramilitary groups on the issue, despite the holding of talks yesterday.
BBC Northern Ireland reported last night that the UDA, the largest loyalist paramilitary group, sought millions of pounds and prisoner release guarantees in return for weapons decommissioning.
Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward has stressed that no deals have been done on the weapons issue. A reliable British source said last night that representatives from any paramilitary group can raise any issue during discussions on decommissioning.
But he added that anything relating to “community development” are so-called devolved issues and are under the control of the Stormont institutions and not the Northern Ireland Office.
Gen de Chastelain is expected to make some form of short statement verifying any witnessed decommissioning some time next week.
Church leaders, meanwhile, have voiced their support for loyalist decommissioning. Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Alan Harper, said: “I very much look forward to full confirmation of the complete decommissioning of all armaments held by loyalist paramilitaries.
“It will represent a further and extremely welcome step towards confidence building and the normalisation of society in Northern Ireland.
“I recognise that on the part of the leadership of the paramilitary groups full decommissioning has been a challenging outcome to deliver; therefore, I commend those within loyalism who have argued consistently for decommissioning over a considerable period.
“Now full energy and commitment can be devoted to community development and the enhancement of the lives of people in loyalist areas free from the dark shadow of the gun.”
The President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Rev Donald P Ker said: “I welcome the news that the loyalist paramilitary groups have decommissioned their weapons. This is a very significant step.
“I would encourage all those in leadership in loyalism to continue to work for the well-being of loyalist communities that have suffered, with many other communities, from a lack of investment due to our conflict on this island.”