Convicted loyalist murderer Michael Stone's former paramilitary associates have claimed they did not have warning of his attempted bomb attack on Stormont.
In a statement released last night, the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) claimed he was a recluse who had become estranged from its membership.
The statement said: "The Ulster Defence Association had no prior knowledge of Stone's intention, and it is becoming increasingly clear that he acted alone."
Stone, who was freed early under the Belfast Agreement from his life sentences for killing three mourners at a republican funeral, is back in jail after being remanded on attempted murder charges brought after he was overpowered and arrested at the front door of Stormont.
The UDA said he had been accepted and supported by its ex-prisoner community after he was freed from the Maze Prison.
The statement said: "He was content for a period to work within this reintegration process.
"But for the past two years he became estranged, wishing to pursue issues of truth and reconciliation, engaging with (Archbishop) Desmond Tutu and wishing to engage with other ex-combatants in the republican community.
"This organisation was not ready for this type of development and Michael has since become more reclusive and withdrawn.
"Due to the lack of resources available to ex-prisoners' groups they were unable to deliver a comprehensive programme that could help people like Michael."
The terrorist group also rejected weekend media reports that it sent four carloads of UDA men to intercept or shoot Stone as he travelled to Stormont, allegedly carrying a bag of home-made explosives for an assassination attempt on Sinn Féin leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.