Dissident killings drove us to brink of war, says loyalist

A senior loyalist paramilitary leader has revealed how close Northern Ireland was to being returned to “the dark old days” after the dissident republican murders in March. Speaking just days after confirmation of decommissioning the source told the story of a leadership struggle “to hold the line”. In weekend statements the UVF, Red Hand Commando and UDA disclosed that preparations for disarmament were suspended in March after the dissident attacks at Massereene Barracks and in Craigavon. Two soldiers, 23-year-old Sapper Mark Quinsey from Birmingham and 21-year-old Sapper Cengiz “Patrick” Azimkar from London, and police officer Stephen Caroll were murdered. “People were champing at the bit (to react),” the loyalist paramilitary leader revealed. He said this was “across the board”, meaning across the loyalist organisations.... [read full story]                    

powered by