Senior loyalist sources have said the UDA feud, in which four people have been killed, is over in Northern Ireland.
However, they warned there could be further attacks in Scotland or other places where supporters of the prominent loyalist Johnny Adair have fled. Those who ordered, planned and carried out the murder of UDA brigadier, John Gregg, would be "hunted down", they insisted.
The lower Shankill was last night quiet after serious disturbances. Nineteen people associated with Adair were driven out of their homes early yesterday. Seven cars, carrying men, women and children, boarded the Larne-Cairnryan ferry which set sail at 4.15 a.m. They included Adair's wife Gina, the couple's children, members of his Shankill C Company, who had remained loyal, and his close associate John White.
It is understood they have been in contact with Adair, who is in Maghaberry prison, by mobile phone. Their departure is a humiliating defeat for the Shankill loyalist.
The mainstream UDA moved against him after up to 100 members of the dissident C Company re-affiliated themselves to the organisation. They had been told they had until yesterday to abandon Adair or be shot. Car loads of men pulled up in Boundary Way, where Adair's family lived, and attacked houses and cars. A man was arrested after police returned fire on a gunman.
Protestant cleric, Pastor Jack McKee, said there had been hand-to-hand street-fighting involving around two dozen men. Adair's family and supporters then decided to leave the area. They were accompanied to the ferry by the PSNI.
After the two-hour journey, they were met by police in Cairnryan. Four men in the group were held under anti-terrorist legislation but were later released. There were reports the contingent had headed to the Ayrshire area where Adair has links.
Boundary Way yesterday was littered with bricks and bottles and Adair's two Alsation dogs ran around the street. His mother arrived on the scene, unaware her daughter-in-law and grandchildren had fled.
Local people said the street disturbances had been "terrifying", but they were glad it was "all over". Later, the mainstream UDA arrived and ripped down flags erected by Adair supporters. They also defaced a C Company wall mural with paint. Loyalist sources insisted Adair's associates were still not safe. "The UDA is a UK-wide organisation. We have plenty of members in Scotland," one said. "These scum will not be able to hide forever. It doesn't matter if they head for Spain or wherever. We will get them."
Pastor McKee, said: "There may be people who want to settle old scores, but what we have witnessed in recent days and weeks is finished." Ulster Unionist councillor, Mr Chris McGimpsey, said he hoped there were be "no further violence and deaths". His party leader, Mr David Trimble, said "an appalling situation" had developed in some loyalist areas of Belfast. There was substantial tension in the city and the police needed to be "more effective". It is understood a new leadership has taken over C Company.
Sinn Féin Assembly member, Mr Gerry Kelly, said the Shankill would not benefit from "the replacement of one group of sectarian killers and drug dealers with another". He criticised unionist leaders for the quality of leadership they had given to their community.
He said the authorities needed to ensure loyalist ranks were not now united by sectarian murder: "Every effort needs to be made in coming days to ensure this feud does not end like previous feuds with the killing of Catholics.