UUP conference: It was worth taking the risk to recognise the UDA ceasefire, the North's security minister, Mr Ian Pearson, told Ulster Unionist conference delegates on Saturday. Gerry Moriarty, Northern Editor, reports.
He rejected as press speculation, however, reports that the UDA or UDA-front organisations in loyalist areas were to receive about £3 million in funding to support the creation of local "security" firms in return for the loyalist group winding down its violence and criminality.
Mr Pearson made his comments at a fringe meeting of the UUP conference where party delegates left him in no doubt that they opposed the possible closing of up to 50 of the PSNI's 178 police stations.
He said it was crucial to involve loyalists in the broader political process. He understood how delegates could view with trepidation the decision of the Northern Secretary to judge the UDA cessation as valid but he nonetheless felt it was a justifiable gamble.
"They have got to walk the walk and we expect actions, not words, from them," he said. "You have to welcome the fact that the UDA is considering coming out of the jungle and giving up the path of violence."
In a security debate later at the conference, where delegates supported a motion calling for more funding for the Assets Recovery Agency - similar to the Criminal Assets Bureau in the Republic - the UUP Strangford Assembly member Mr David McNarry also supported the Northern Secretary's move. Mr McNarry urged delegates to give the UDA space to move away from paramilitarism. If it did not live up to its promises then it should feel the full weight of the law, he said.
A considerable portion of the fringe meeting was taken up with delegates urging Mr Pearson not to proceed with plans to cut the number of police stations.
Mr Pearson argued that closing a number of stations would free up cash to allow for more officers on the beat. Such stations were "tying up a lot of capital" that could be better used for "frontline" policing.
The Police Ombudsman, Mrs Nuala O'Loan, also came in for criticism. Mr Tom Elliott, the UUP candidate in Fermanagh South Tyrone, referring to the fact that she is married to an SDLP councillor, said it was inconceivable that a unionist in a similar position would have been appointed to the post.