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Mandy McAuley, from BBC Spotlight, reported on a former security watchdog’s claim that the process aimed at disbanding loyalist paramilitary groups has failed. Lord Alderdice, who was a member of the Independent Monitoring Commission, stated that talks about loyalist transition should cease. This statement came after Winston Irvine, who worked with the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC), was arrested and convicted on firearms charges.
An unnamed senior LCC source informed Spotlight that loyalist transition is set to be completed this autumn. The source indicated that an announcement detailing the dismantling of all paramilitary structures is imminent. Irvine, formerly a well-known community worker, received a two and a half year sentence for guns and ammunition found in his car in 2022. The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) is appealing the sentence for being described as “unduly lenient.”
Lord Alderdice, who spent seven years on the Independent Monitoring Commission, expressed his belief that the transition process is ineffective. He called for an immediate halt to the talks, emphasizing that the loyalist paramilitaries have not genuinely made efforts to transition away from criminality. The programme also highlighted Cathy McIlvenny’s perspective, as her sister was murdered by UDA members in 1987. Cathy underscored the importance of cutting off funding for loyalist paramilitaries to prevent further violence.
Prior to his arrest, Irvine served as a paid community worker for over a decade, enhancing his credibility as a peace builder. Despite receiving supportive character references, his arrest raised concerns among British and Irish governments that rely on community workers to engage with loyalist communities. Irvine was suspended from his role at Intercomm Ireland following his arrest, resulting in significant reorganization within the organization. The impact of Irvine’s actions was felt by the community, leading to the need for a restructuring of operations to fulfill commitments and obligations.
Catch the Spotlight programme “Caught: Guns in the Boot” on the BBC iPlayer now for more insight into this ongoing issue in Northern Ireland. Watch it on BBC One at 22:40 BST on Tuesday to learn more about the challenges surrounding the disbandment of loyalist paramilitary groups
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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