Anti-united Ireland campaign slammed
By Chris Thornton
30 August 2005
The involvement of loyalist terrorists in a new unionist campaign to oppose a united Ireland was attacked by the SDLP today.
Members of a number of Protestant and loyalist organisations, including the UDA and UVF, were present yesterday when the campaign was launched in Larne.
Featuring 200,000 newspapers and a website opposed to “unremitting concessions to republicanism”, the campaign was launched by a former DUP election candidate, a representative of the Shankill Mirror newspaper, the relatives of an IRA victim and Orange Order Grand Master Robert Saulters.
UDA leader Jackie McDonald took part in a symbolic launch of a Shankill mirror edition featuring the headline “Ulster at Crisis Point”. Other members of his organisation and the UVF also reportedly took part in the launch.
SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell said the campaign was “deeply irresponsible” and singled out the Orange Order for particular criticism.
“It is utterly disgraceful at a time when loyalist paramilitaries are killing each other and terrorising the nationalist community that the Orange Order should have come together with them on a campaign against a united Ireland,” he said.
