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22/03/2007
£1.2 million funding to be given to UDA
Plans by the government to give an organisation connected with a loyalist paramilitary group more than £1 million have been announced today.
The Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG) will be given £1.2 million over three years to encourage loyalist communities to focus on social economic development and move away from violence and crime.
Social Development Minister David Hanson announced the news.
"I expect that this additional support will deliver a quickening in pace of the work of the UPRG in their conflict transformation work that the latest IMC report identified was required," he said.
It is understood the funds will transform the UDA into a non-paramilitary group and under the plans the URPG will employ 12 people to work across six regions across Northern Ireland to enable the communities to access funds.
The Secretary of State, Peter Hain, said: "We gave them a trial period, over a period of months to see how this work could progress and now we have agreed a long-term support for this objective, which I think is vital."
Frankie Gallagher, UPRG spokesman welcomed the news, saying: "The money is not going to the UDA, it is not going to UDA personnel or into their coffers.
"It is going to a legitimate organisation which has existed for some 20 years and which has been at the forefront of peace-building in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland."
In return for the funding, the government wants to see an end to all UDA violence and criminality.
The Department of Social Development is expected to approve the plan today in response to the business plan drawn up by the UPRG.
(JM/KMcA)
The Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG) will be given £1.2 million over three years to encourage loyalist communities to focus on social economic development and move away from violence and crime.
Social Development Minister David Hanson announced the news.
"I expect that this additional support will deliver a quickening in pace of the work of the UPRG in their conflict transformation work that the latest IMC report identified was required," he said.
It is understood the funds will transform the UDA into a non-paramilitary group and under the plans the URPG will employ 12 people to work across six regions across Northern Ireland to enable the communities to access funds.
The Secretary of State, Peter Hain, said: "We gave them a trial period, over a period of months to see how this work could progress and now we have agreed a long-term support for this objective, which I think is vital."
Frankie Gallagher, UPRG spokesman welcomed the news, saying: "The money is not going to the UDA, it is not going to UDA personnel or into their coffers.
"It is going to a legitimate organisation which has existed for some 20 years and which has been at the forefront of peace-building in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland."
In return for the funding, the government wants to see an end to all UDA violence and criminality.
The Department of Social Development is expected to approve the plan today in response to the business plan drawn up by the UPRG.
(JM/KMcA)
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Former east Belfast UDA leader has bank accounts frozen
Former east Belfast UDA leader Jim Gray has had his bank accounts frozen, Banbridge Magistrates Court heard today. The 47-year-old, who was charged at the weekend with possessing and concealing criminal property but who denies the charges, appeared by video link from Maghaberry Prison and spoke only to confirm his name.
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