THE MAN behind the re-emergence of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) in the 1960s has called for the organisation to stand down.
Gusty Spence, a former prisoner, mentor to the late David Ervine, and the man who delivered the loyalist ceasefire statement in 1994 said: “The UVF should stand down now. There is no reason for them to exist.” Mr Spence made his remarks to BBC Northern Ireland last night after a series of reports by the Independent Monitoring Commission which cited UVF criminal activity including the sanction of the murder of loyalist Bobby Moffett on the Shankill Road in Belfast last May.
The UVF is also being accused of orchestrating two nights of serious violence in the loyalist Rathcoole area of Newtownabbey, Co Antrim at the end of October.
Punishment attacks have continued in loyalist areas. The organisation has committed itself to a process of “civilianisation” and announced it had decommissioned its weapons.
However, ongoing violent attacks and criminal activity have led to the commission reporting last week that the leadership may not be in full control of its members.
UVF activities have caused havoc within the Progressive Unionist Party to which it is aligned.