UDA decommissioning uneven: IMC

The report is in general positive towards the loyalist organisation and it states that: "The significance of the events lies not only in the decommissioning itself but in the fact that the leadership was able to act this way. We have no indication of any attempts to acquire weapons after these acts of decommissioning.

"Nor do we believe that the UDA engaged in any acts of terrorism. Leadership influence can also be seen in the absence of a violent reaction to dissident republican activity."

In the months leading up to UDA decommissioning on January 6, 2010, there had been much speculation that the Londonderry and North Antrim Brigade were highly resistant to handing over weapons. One reason suggested for that was the fact that Londonderry remains a stronghold for dissident republican activity.

However, in an interview with the Londonderry Sentinel the brigadier of the UDA in Londonderry and North Antrim, known as 'The Mexican', dismissed any idea that the local UDA were dissenting from the leadership and other four brigades of the organisation. Whilst he admitted there were 'strains' within the Londonderry and North Antrim Brigade in the face of republican attacks, a decision was taken that since the dissidents had not struck directly against the Protestant and unionist community there would be no loyalist response.

Yet, the IMC report stated: "The picture within the UDA remains a complex one. As we have said on a number of occasions in the past, the UDA leadership is not fully cohesive. The structure of the so-called brigades leaves a large measure of autonomy to individual areas, which is sometimes jealously guarded. We believe that the achievement of decommissioning was hard won, just as they sought to steer members away from crime and to actively support local community development.

"Other leading figures were less committed to change. The result is an organisation in which local brigade loyalties are overlaid by differences between those promoting change and others. The UDA needs to continue to address these internal tensions, which could be exacerbated by continuing dissident republican violence. None of this detracts from what has been achieved but it is relevant for future progress."

The report also pointed to individual members of the UDA being involved in a variety of illegal activity in the latest review period.

"A number of assaults committed by loyalists can be ascribed to members of the UDA; in certain instances some leading figures may have been aware of what is happening," the report said.

It also stated that tensions at interface areas involved members of the UDA, though there was no reason to suggest that they committed sectarian attacks. Other offences noted by individuals were attacks on those allegedly involved selling drugs or in other anti-social behaviour. Some UDA members, say the IMC, also remained involved in drug dealing, intimidation and extortion and in some instances some senior figures were themselves