Fears of a new loyalist feud were raised tonight after the Ulster Defence Association warned its west Belfast members to distance themselves from deposed leader, Johnny Adair.
The leadership has also sent a coded warning to Adair and his associate John White, saying they would be held responsible of attacks on loyalist families continue. It has blamed individuals within Adair's "C" Company in the lower Shankill area of Belfast for eight of attacks over the past two weeks, warning if they continue it could spark a third loyalist feud.
Both men were expelled from the UDA in September because of their close links with the rival Loyalist Volunteer Force. A feud between both groups, which left three men dead, ended this week when the LVF accepted that the UDA was not behind the murder of one of its members.
Two years ago, seven people died during a shooting war between the UDA and the Ulster Volunteer Force. Tonight's statement claimed individuals in "C" Company were "at the heart and cause" of both feuds. It added: "The loyalist people of west Belfast do not want this.
They have suffered enough and this must not be allowed to happen a third time. "The West Belfast UDA must take action to distance themselves from these individuals, they have caused enough suffering." White who was a member of the Ulster Political Research Group which advises the UDA politically, said he was treating the latest statement with contempt it deserved. He denied that he or Adair were responsible for attacks on the homes of other loyalists.
"To be honest I don't know what they are talking about because it's all a lot of misinformation "It is an attempt to try and isolate us which won't happen," he added. ends