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'McGuinness helped maintain UDA ceasefire'
A STATEMENT from Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness in the wake of dissident republican killings at Masserene Barracks and the murder of Constable Stephen O'Carroll, may have prevented the UDA 'striking back', the Sentinel has learned.
Speaking exclusively to the Sentinel, the man thought to be the UDA brigadier in North Antrim and Londonderry, admitted that the murders in March placed a considerable degree of strain on the loyalist organisation's ceasefire.
Known as 'The Mexican,' the loyalist leader said: "There was strain, but we ensured that there was no knee jerk reaction to the shootings. We urged people to sit back and let the security forces deal with it."
After the republican murders Martin McGuinness was scathing of the attacks and said: "These people are traitors to the island of Ireland, they have betrayed the political desires, hopes and aspirations of all of the people who live on this island. They don't deserve to be supported by anyone."
Another leading loyalist from North Antrim, present at the interview with the Sentinel said: "McGuinness' statement helped to show that these boys were serious about the Peace Process. I never thought the IRA would decommission. I always thought they would take the concessions on offer and go back to war."
Dismissing press speculation that there had been a split within the UDA, between the north west and the remainder of Northern Ireland, 'The Mexican' said fears within Londonderry about the activities of dissident republicans had been the source of debate amongst the local UDA membership.
"The fact that North Antrim and Londonderry are prepared to go forward with this shows leadership. We haven't been drawn back into conflict. The last thing we wanted was a dissident UDA. There were no dissenters within the brigade.
"There was no interest in holding onto weapons to fight a war that's ten years over. There were dangers associated to a weapon lying in a roof space for years and if found somebody could be sent to jail. So there was a debate over the handling of decommisioning. It had to be a complete process," he said.
'The Mexican', also stated he believed that UDA decommissioning would be completed by the Government deadline of February 2010. He said that General John De Chastelain was 'happy' with the progress to date and both the UDA and Independent International Commision on Decommissioning (IICD) would work together to bring the process to its conclusion.
"The next act of decommissioning will be decisive, it will not happen through a number of small acts," he said.
Both loyalist leaders interviewed by the Sentinel said they never thought they would see the end of the conflict.
In a scathing swipe at mainstream unionist politicians, 'The Mexican' said: "They used and abused us, they knew what was happening but they have engaged in a lot of slagging lately and some of them have a lot of skeletons in their closets."
The leading loyalist from North Antrim said: "It was a long road and a lot of this was totally unnecessary. If Terence O'Neil had been allowed to bring in his reforms in the late 1960's, would the Provos ever have existed?"
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Weather for Londonderry
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North east
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
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