FUNERALS
AND FEAR
Following a week of bloody internecine loyalist violence, the last of a series of three loyalist paramilitary funerals took place on Saturday.
Tensions are still running high on the Shankill Road in
west Belfast, but a predicted
bloodletting between the rival UDA and UVF
groups has so far failed to materialise. While
both sides appear to be arming
themselves to the teeth for further conflict, nationalists are increasingly concerned that these weapons
could be turned against them.
Enough explosives to make 50 lethal pipe bombs was
discovered in a house in the
Shankill area in the possession of the UDA on Wednesday. The
next day, a UVF cache -- including an Uzi sub machine gun, an assault rifle, three handguns and a semi automatic
shotgun -- was seized when two cars were stopped, and six
men were briefly detained.
One of the weapons found this week is reported to be of a
sort never before seen in loyalist
hands in the North, adding to speculation that loyalists have been rearming.
British Secretary of State Peter Mandelson has not
commented on the arms finds, but
has claimed credit for the relative quiet on the Shankill this weekend.
He pointed in particular to his decision to re-imprison one of the principal architects of the
feud, convicted UDA leader Johnny
Adair.
Mandelson -- who is currenty fighting a feud of his own
with other Ministers in the British
government, including the former Northern Secretary, Mo Mowlam -- claimed his decision to send Adair
back to jail had discouraged others from engaging in violence.
Mr Mandelson said he hoped the arrest would clear the way
for a settlement of what he called the "differences between different loyalist organisations".
He went on: "It is important that loyalism - which has
an important and legitimate role to
play in Northern Ireland - is reintegrated properly into the political process."
But with no sign of mediation in sight, a heavy deployment
of soldiers and RUC police in
loyalist West Belfast remains the British
government's main policy for dealing with the violence, which
has continued in isolated areas.
There was heavy security in the troubled Shankill this week
as thousands turned out for
funerals which were effectively rival shows of strength. The televised paramilitary funeral
ceremonies sparked anger among
nationalist viewers, particularly the sight of
an RUC man saluting the coffin of feud victim Bobby Mahood on
Other viewers were dismayed that the Protestant Apprentice
Boys orgnisation formed a guard of
honour at Mr Mahood's funeral. "How does this reflect on the Apprentice Boys who then seek to
march through nationalist
areas?" asked one angry viewer.
On Friday, two paramilitary flags were draped over the
coffin of UDA man Jackie Coulter,
who was killed alongssde Mahood on Monday,
while six men at the front of the funeral procession wore UDA
armbands. Wreaths bearing UFF and UDA lettering were carried at
the front of the procession and a flatbed lorry laden with flowers included a tribute from the LVF, which is allied to
the UDA/UFF.
At Roselawn Cemetery in east Belfast, where Mr Coulter was buried,
a statement from the UDA in west Belfast was read out expressing
"disgust at the cowardly and brutal murder". The spokesman
added: "We call for an end to this feud by those who started
it."
On Saturday, the media were ordered away from the funeral
of Sam Rocket "for their own
safety" as leading UVF figures attended the funeral of their man, killed on Wednesday in retaliation.
Men in white shirts, black trousers, ties and arm bands
flanked the coffin as it was taken
on a lengthy route around the Shankill area.
His brother, Arthur, was given companionate bail from prison to attend the funeral after being arrested and charged with
possession of a firearm in the aftermath of the murder.
The loyalist feud was discussed when a Sinn Fein delegation
held a 90-minute meeting with Peter
Mandelson on Friday. Mr Martin McGuinness
expressed concern about developments within the UDA and
its political representatives in the Ulster Democratic Party.
He said the UDP chairman, Mr John White, must explain
whether he still supported the
peace process. "Republicans take no satisfaction whatsoever in seeing these events unfold. I am worried
further conflict will have huge implications for the peace
process," Mr McGuinness said.
"John White, in particular, has a huge role to play in
all this. He must make his decision
very clear with regard to the peace process and the Good Friday agreement. Many people in the community
would like to see him play a constructive role in sorting
all this out.
"People involved in this dispute need to stand back,
draw breath and consider where this
is taking us before any more lives are lost."
Mr White later said he did not need to answer Mr McGuinness, but insisted he remained committed to the Good Friday Agreement which he said was "the best deal loyalists could expect to get".