Following the statement at the beginning of May from the UVF, the IICD expressed concern that the paramilitary organisation had only put their arms ‘beyond reach’ rather than being fully decommissioned – as the Chief Constable Hugh Orde would prefer. The BBC’s Vincent Kearney reports that, with representatives of the UVF meeting with other paramilitary leaders and Martin McAleese, today former PUP MLA “Billy Hutchison and a number of senior UVF members met the general [de Chastelain] and his other commission members in Belfast.” The question Vincent Kearney asks is was a one-off meeting, or the start of a process?
It’s understood they explained in detail how their weapons are stored and insisted they can guarantee that they are really beyond reach and cannot be used again. In a statement, the commission said: “The IICD has met with representatives of the UVF for a frank exchange of positions and will remain available to meet with the representatives to continue this dialogue.”
Discover more from Slugger O'Toole
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.
