The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, will tonight meet a delegation of loyalists linked to the Ulster Defence Association at a secret location in Dublin. Dan Keenan, Northern News Editor, reports
The Government is keen to encourage the political element within loyalism on the eve of the Belfast Agreement review at Stormont.
The paramilitary organisation, which has fought a bitter feud and is steeped in organised crime, has been on a declared ceasefire for nearly 12 months, but this is widely held to have been broken on many occasions. However, despite evidence of much paramilitary activity, last summer was the quietest in decades. This has been attributed in part to concerted efforts at street level in loyalist areas, particularly in north Belfast.
The loyalist delegation will include councillors Mr Tommy Kirkham, Mr Frankie Gallagher and Mr Frank McCoubrey. Loyalist prisoner representative Mr Stanley Fletcher and Mr Jackie McDonald, a UDA leader, are also expected in Dublin for the first meeting between the Taoiseach and the Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG). They will raise issues relating to the regime at Maghaberry prison in Co Antrim where they want greater recognition for the status of UDA prisoners.
The delegation is expected to seek wider involvement in the political process. The review of the agreement, to start on February 3rd, can only include parties represented at Stormont. Following November's election, only Mr David Ervine of the Progressive Unionist Party, which is associated with the UVF, is entitled to a seat at the review. One Government source suggested last night that the meeting was part of an "outreach" tactic. The Irish Times was told the Taoiseach will demonstrate that there are people prepared to listen to the UPRG and its concerns in an effort to help stabilise the political wing of loyalism.
The UPRG wants a meeting with the British Prime Minister, but there are no indications such a meeting will be granted just yet. A trusted British source said last night that Mr Blair and government ministers wanted to encourage loyalist political representatives but only in the absence of UDA criminality.
Loyalist paramilitaries are being blamed for an attack on a GAA club in west Belfast yesterday in which a device was left near a pitch at the Lámh Dhearg club, where 40 children were to begin training. Sinn Féin and the SDLP have accused the UDA of placing the device which the PSNI said had the ability to kill. Last week, the UPRG met the security minister, Ms Jane Kennedy, who told them that pipe-bombs and politics were incompatible.
It was a line echoed yesterday by the Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, who is scheduled to meet the UPRG next week.