A SMALL bomb was thrown into the south Belfast home of the parents of one of the dissident loyalist figures who is under threat by the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC).
The RUC reported that two people, understood to be the parents of Mr Alec Kerr, an associate of the Armagh loyalist Billy Wright, were treated for minor injuries and shock as a result of the explosion. The device, thought to be a home made grenade, was thrown into the living room of the couple's home at Willisfield Avenue, Dunmurry, at around 10.30 p.m.
Mr Kerr, the former south Belfast commander of the Ulster Defence Association and Mr Wright were both ordered to leave Northern Ireland by the CLMC last week. Mr Wright is refusing to leave his Portadown home in defiance of the deadline of Saturday night set by the CLMC is believed to be under threat of assassination. Last night he condemned the attack on the Kerrs. "The unionists I know will be disgusted with this behaviour," he said.
Mr Kerr in prison awaiting trial on charges of furthering the aims of a terrorist organisation. He was arrested leaving a press conference in Co Down 10 days ago to announce the setting up a new loyalist paramilitary organisation. He was arrested along with two other former UDA members driving from the press conference at Annahilt. Mr Wright evaded arrest.
Mr Kerr had lived in Dunmurry until about a year ago when he was forced to leave after an internal dispute with other UDA leaders in Belfast. An attempt was made to assassinate him at the start of the year.
He recently moved to Portadown and, with other former UDA members, formed an association with Mr Wright, who was expelled from the other loyalist paramilitary organisation, the Ulster Volunteer Force, last month.
Last night's incident is the first occasion in which loyalists have used an explosive device since the start of their ceasefire in October, 1994. The attack was not admitted by either of the loyalist organisations last night but there is a strong UDA organisation in the Dunmurry area.
The UDA is known to be taking the challenge to its authority very seriously. Last weekend, an estimated 100 UDA members from south Belfast visited Dromore, Co Down, where some of Mr Kerr's supporters live, and read out messages threatening anyone who challenged the organisation's authority.
If last night's attack is found to be the work of either of the organisations, it could have implications for their political representatives as they approach next week's political talks at Stormont.
All the parties attending the talks must adhere to the Mitchell Principles of non violence, which has already led to the exclusion of Sinn Fein because of the IRA's decision in February to call off its ceasefire.
The UDA's political wing, the Ulster Democratic Party, led by Mr Gary McMichael, is due to attend next week's talks. The UVF's political party, the Progressive Unionist Party is also due to attend the talks so long as the loyalist ceasefire is seen to hold.
Dick Grogan adds: The Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, said at the weekend mediation should be attempted the internal loyalist dispute which has led to death threats against Mr Wright and Mr Kerr.
According to reports, Mr Wright attended a loyalist function in Portadown on Saturday night, and his supporters have called a rally in the town on Wednesday night.
The Rev Roy Magee, the clergyman who acted as an intermediary with loyalist paramilitaries on numerous occasions, has offered to mediate, but said yesterday there had as yet been no response.
"We don't want to see any violence from loyalists, of any sort," Mr Trimble said. "We certainly don't want to see events that would lead to an ending of the [loyalist] ceasefire."