“We want to avoid violence and had informed the PSNI and the Northern Ireland Office in advance”

The Irish News has a report [subs req] which quotes UPRG spokesman Frankie Gallagher on the statement from the UDA I noted yesterday, claiming that, according to the Irish News report, ‘the mainstream UDA did not want to become involved in a feud with its former associates.‘ Such a feud would, of course, have financial and political implications.. and, we can hope, custodial.. The statement doesn’t, however, rule out involvement in such a feud and, as the unnamed “source close to the organisation’s leadership” said to Brian Rowan in yesterday’s report

the wish was to achieve this without violence, but warned the inner council “will stand with their members if they are under threat”.

Frankie Gallagher also claimed that the police, and the NIO, were both informed in advance..From the Irish News report [subs req]

UPRG spokesman Frankie Gallagher last night said the mainstream UDA did not want to become involved in a feud with its former associates.

“This was an act of non-agression and was a democratic decision taken by UDA members in south east Antrim,” he said.

“This is not about putting people out onto the streets or attacking anyone.

“We want to avoid violence and had informed the PSNI and the Northern Ireland Office in advance of this. [added emphasis]

“We believe that people shouuld be free to make their own choices and should be allowed to live without fear of intimadation.”

So, as I suggested yesterday, the police [and the NIO – Ed] are continuing to talk to those with influence..

And why not? Everyone else is.. [Well, maybe not everyone – Ed]

btw how is that review of the status of specified and other paramilitary organisations going?