Loyalists have met the Northern Ireland authorities in secret talks over weapons decommissioning, it was revealed last night.
Yesterday’s meeting involved senior Ulster Defence Association (UDA) members, PSNI chief constable Sir Hugh Orde and Security Minister Paul Goggins.
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has warned that post-ceasefire arrangements to hand over guns would not last forever and members of the group face a limited period to enjoy an effective amnesty from investigation.
An NIO spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that the minister had a private meeting with the Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG) and other leading loyalists.
A police spokesman said: “We can confirm the Security Minister held a meeting with the UPRG and other leading loyalists which the chief constable was invited to attend.
“The police service record in dealing with loyalist paramilitaries and those involved in criminality is very clear, it won’t be tolerated.”
The UDA is a disparate group responsible for scores of conflict killings. It has been riven by infighting.
The NIO wants it to begin the process of decommissioning within six months and if it does not, the international decommissioning body could cease to exist.
At that point there would no longer be a weapons amnesty and any weapons found will be forensically tested and the evidence used in future court cases.
PA