Alliance welcomes Orde call to cut loyalist funding

5.13.06pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 2nd Aug 2007

Alliance leader David Ford MLA

Alliance Leader David Ford has welcomed comments from the Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde that the funding for groups linked to the UDA should be stopped. The comments followed what the Chief Constable described as UDA-orchestrated violence in Kilcooley last night, during which shots were fired at the Police and extensive damage was caused after police conducted searches of property in the area, which yielded drugs.

The South Antrim MLA said, "I welcome these hard hitting comments from the Chief Constable which echo calls from both myself and my Deputy Leader Naomi Long in recent days.

"It is totally unacceptable that those linked to the UDA, which has now been involved in two violent incidents in a fortnight during which shots have been fired at the Police, should be receiving any public money.

"The UDA as a whole is quite clearly not committed to leaving violence behind and accepting the rule of law, otherwise their spokespeople would be welcoming searches which lead to drugs finds rather than excusing those who rioted afterwards. Furthermore, these shooting incidents make it crystal clear that they are not only unwilling to decommission their weapons, but also more than willing to use them against the police.

"I would call on the Government to listen to the Chief Constable and to those of us who have been consistently putting these views forward, and ensure that no more funding is given to those who refuse to move away from violence.

"Last night's rioting also puts the lie to the notion that there is any such thing as a good UDA - there are just criminals and gangsters who are intent in destroying their local communities."

ENDS