Minister Threatens To Withdraw Funding For Loyalist Initiative

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie has today challenged the UDA to begin decommissioning its weapons. 



Otherwise, she said, the funding provided to the Conflict Transformation Initiative (CTI) project involving the Ulster Political Research Group would cease 60 days from now. 



The Minister explained that in light of the recent UDA-linked violence at Carrickfergus and Kilcooley she was not prepared to continue supporting the project in the absence of any clear evidence of decommissioning and reducing criminality. 



The Minister said: “I abhor paramilitarism of whatever hue. It and the violence, intimidation and criminality, which it almost invariably spawns, have no place in a peaceful modern society. There is no excuse now for paramilitarism. It is time for all those who subject their communities to thuggery, extortion and violence under the pretence of defending them to get off the stage.”



The Minister reiterated her concerns about the CTI project, which was given funding under Direct Rule.

The Minister continued: “The project is predicated on the expectation that the UDA would move away from violence and, frankly, get off the backs of the communities where it is based. Helping those communities to begin to flourish again and promoting their interests is, and will remain, my priority in dealing with this matter. The actions of recent days are a clear breach of the basis on which funding was awarded and I have seriously considered withdrawing the funding immediately.”

However, even before the recent violence Ms Ritchie warned that the money would be stopped if the UDA did not decommission its weapons.

Ms Ritchie said: “I have decided therefore that the funding for the CTI project will cease unless there is clear evidence that the UDA means what it says. The funding will end 60 days from now unless there is clear and demonstrable evidence that the UDA has engaged meaningfully with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning and has started to decommission its weapons.”

The Conflict Transformation Initiative was agreed by direct rule ministers and is worth £1.2 million to loyalist communities over four years.

(SB)