Fears of further inter-loyalist blood-letting have flared again after a leading loyalist escaped injury in a gun attack on his home on Saturday night, writes Gerry Moriarty, Northern Editor.
Shots were fired at the house of Mr Sammy Duddy at Carmeen Drive in Rathcool on the outskirts of north Belfast. Neither Mr Duddy nor his wife were hit but a pet dog who was struck died later.
Two shots smashed through the door of the house. Mr Duddy chased two masked people down Carmeen Drive after the attack but did not apprehend them. He described his attackers as "cowards" and said he would not be silenced.
On Thursday, Mr Duddy, a member of the Ulster Political Research Group which is linked to the UDA, read out a UDA statement outside the Belfast courts in which the organisation admitted a "punishment" shooting attack on senior loyalist Mr Davy Mahood.
The UDA said Mr Mahood was shot in the legs for being in breach of discipline. The UDA indicated it initially planned to kill Mr Mahood but his life was spared because, according to the statement, the UDA was now under new leadership that supported the peace process. Mr Mahood was replaced on the UPRG by Mr Duddy.
Mr Mahood said that early last week he was warned that he was under threat. He did not take the warning seriously because it came from what he described as a non-existent loyalist organisation.
He blamed loyalists for the attack. It happened as loyalist and unionist representatives were trying to broker an end to the feud involving different elements within the UDA and the Loyalist Volunteer Force. The attacks, which centre on who should control drugs, racketeering, extortion and other criminality, claimed three lives and left other injured in recent months.
Technology in courts examined
THE use of technology in the courts and the possibility of change in the system of criminal trial by jury were among the topics discussed by the State's 120 judges at their annual conference over the weekend, writes Carol Coulter.
The conference, in Dublin Castle, was organised by the Judicial Studies Institute, and was presided over by the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Keane.
Supreme Court judge, Mr Justice Murray, one of the principal organisers of the event, said: "These conferences don't come up with recommendations but they do show that judges are involved in furthering the debate, are contributors to the modernisation of our systems and are considering proposed future paths and models of organisation."
Topics covered in the past have included the importance of forensic evidence in sexual assault cases; the effects of new legislation such as the Children's Act or licensing changes; the rights to a fair trial under the European Convention on Human Rights; judicial reviews, and sporting risks and the law. Speakers have ranged from social workers and academics to journalists and visiting judges.