Purvis Quits Party Over 'UVF Link'

A recognised 'voice' for the illegal Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) has been silenced.

The Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) leader Dawn Purvis confirmed she has quit the party, only days after a murder on the Shankill Road.

Ms Purvis said she was "very sad" about the decision and had given her decision to her party executive last night.

The news comes after the murder of Shankill Road man Bobby Moffett amidst shoppers on the road last Friday, which has caused widespread revulsion in the area.

The move comes on foot of suspicions that the fatal shooting was carried out by the UVF, which had been 'represented' by the PUP, which is why she has now resigned both as a party member and as party leader.

She will continue to sit as an independent MLA in the Assembly.

Ms Purvis said the party was "severely restricted" in what it could deliver and needed to be reconstituted.

She has consistently condemned the murder of Mr Moffett and yesterday called for everyone to be able to attend his funeral free on foot of claims that the UVF had issued warnings to individuals not to attend his burial.

Bobby Moffett - a former loyalist prisoner - was shot in the face on Friday afternoon by two masked attackers.

The funeral service is due to take place tomorrow at St Michael's Church of Ireland in Craven Street.

(BMcC/GK)