Empey Responds to Ritchie’s 90-day Deadline for UDA Funding
Ulster Unionist Party Leader and Executive Minister Sir Reg Empey today responded to Margaret Ritchie’s plan to cut funding to UDA initiatives in 60 days unless they begin decommissioning.
In a statement Sir Reg said,
“I said last week that enormous damage has been done by recent actions in Carrickfergus and Kilcooley and combined with comments from the Chief Constable, these events have put the Minister for Social Development in an impossible position.
I have consistently argued that the only solution is to properly deal with the weapons issue and move towards exclusively peaceful means. I acknowledge that there are many in the UDA working hard to ensure that this transition takes place. I believe a majority are committed to a peaceful future and to re-building their communities, however the continued criminal and destructive actions of a few are undermining public confidence that a meaningful transition is in fact taking place.
Recent actions combined with a lack of decommissioning means the UDA have a job of work to do to convince the public that they are transforming and that this public money is money well spent. I would urge UDA representatives to re-double their efforts and create public confidence in their efforts to transform.”