UDA ceasefire is over, claim nationalists

Nationalists in Northern Ireland today claimed the UDA ceasefire is in some areas "completely nonexistent" following a number of bomb attacks in the North.

For a very long time, certainly in north, east and south Antrim, the activities of loyalist paramilitaries associated under one umbrella or another with the UDA, suggest very, very strongly that their ceasefire in those areas is completely non-existent Mr Sean Farren of the SDLP

The SDLP and Sinn Féin both called on the Secretary of State, Dr John Reid, to publicly acknowledge the loyalist group’s ceasefire is over.

British army bomb disposal experts yesterday defused a large blast incendiary bomb that was found in a car park in Ballycastle, Co Antrim, as huge crowds were attending the annual Auld Lammasfair.

The Red Hand Defenders, a cover name used by the UDA and the LVF in the past, claimed responsibility for the bomb.

Two pipe bombs were found this morning close to where the car bomb was found. One was discovered at an hotel in Ballycastle and the second in a nearby pub. They were both defused.

A Catholic couple and their four children also escaped injury in an overnight pipe bomb attack on their home in Ballynahinch, Co Down.

SDLP Employment and Learning Minister Mr Sean Farren MLA said the British government must acknowledge the UDA ceasefire was not operating in some parts of the North.

He said: "For a very long time, certainly in north, east and south Antrim, the activities of loyalist paramilitaries associated under one umbrella or another with the UDA, suggest very, very strongly that their ceasefire in those areas is completely non-existent.

"The government must take full cognisance of the evidence and take the action that that evidence suggests."

Later today Sinn Féin Councillor for North Antrim, Mr Philip McGuigan, said there had been over 200 attacks on Catholics so far this year, and claimed they were "clearly the work of the UDA."

"While the UDA have been involved in nightly attacks against the nationalist population ... John Reid has remained silent," he said. "I would now call on him to make public his position on the UDA ceasefire."

Mr McGuigan also alleged the UDA had been armed and supplied with intelligence by the British government.

The owner of the house where two pipe bombs exploded in Ballynahinch also blamed the UDA.

"There have been various cars burnt in the street - all coming from the UDA but apparently they're on ceasefire, so it couldn't be them," he said, wishing to remain anonymous.

"Everyone in Ballynahinch knows it's the UDA. They know who's doing it."

Additional Reporting: PA