UVF 'Sanctioned Bobby Moffett Murder'

The murder of loyalist Bobby Moffett earlier this year was sanctioned by the leaders of the Ulster Volunteer Force, a report has found.

The report by the Independent Monitoring Commission said that the murder of the 43-year-old, who was shot dead on Belfast's Shankill Road on May 28, was sanctioned by the organisation's leaders, who could have prevented the murder.

The report said: "There were two main reasons for the murder and the way in which it was committed: to stop Mr Moffett's perceived flouting of UVF authority, and to send a message to the organisation and the community that this authority was not to be challenged."

The UVF issued a statement renouncing violence in 2007 and took the step of full decommissioning of its weapons last year.

However, the IMC said that although the murder was "extremely serious", they did not suggest that it was in breach of the UVF ceasefire.

Secretary of State Owen Patterson described Mr Moffett's murder as "brutal and shocking". In a written statement, he said: "The conclusions of the IMC in respect of the behaviour of the UVF leadership are a challenge to the UVF leadership to renew their determination to deliver fully on their collective commitment to transform their organisation."

Former PUP leader Dawn Purvis resigned because of suspicions that the UVF had carried out the murder.

The report was given to the British and Irish Governments last week.

Commenting after the publication of the IMC report which blamed the UVF for the killing, Sinn Féin Assembly member for West Belfast Paul Maskey said: "While the murder of Bobby Moffett was clearly a tragedy for his family and friends the IMC today after spending weeks inquiring into the murder told us what everyone already knows that Moffett was killed by the UVF.

"Given the recent resignation by Dawn Purvis from the PUP there will be no political consequence arsing from this report." he said.

"At a political level this report highlights the fact that the IMC as a body serves little purpose and is a waste of time, money and effort," he fumed.

"The IMC should be abolished and the monies being wasted in its administration and expenses should be redirected into frontline services as part of the effort to minimise the effect of the Tory cuts."

(KMcA/BMcC)