Sunday Life
By Ciaran McGuigan
06 November 2005
THE LOYALIST Volunteer Force offered to “stand down” because it was in disarray with its leaders either behind bars or forced to flee Ulster.
But the loyalist terror group, described by one senior security source as “simply drugs dealers with guns and badges”, are unlikely to give up their lucrative drugs trade so easily, it has been warned.
The LVF statement issued last Monday, ordering all its units to stand down, has been met with scepticism
“Whether or not they step down, as they have said in the past week is one thing.
“But drug dealing is what these people do for a living and have been for years, and it’s unlikely that they are going to give that up now,” warned a senior security source.
“They have come out with their statement because they have been under intense pressure from the UVF, and for no other reason.
“If they are serious about standing down they will have to give up their guns and stop dealing drugs and I don’t see that happening.
“Their organisation has taken some severe blows, however.
“Because of what has happened (with the UVF), a lot of the most senior figures have taken themselves offside and out of the country.
“Others are still in Northern Ireland, but in jail.”
Sunday Life understands that among the senior figures who have fled is a close associate of murdered LVF commander Steven Warnock.
The man, who lived in the Garnerville area of Holywood, fled after the UVF took over the estate. He’s believed to be holed up in east Scotland.
As well as coming under pressure from the UVF, the man is understood to have been questioned about the disappearance of Lisa Dorrian.
Added our source: “He was the main man in Holywood and east Belfast and was involved in major drug dealing on a daily basis.”
Another leading figure is Robert ‘Blackie’ Black, currently on remand in Maghaberry prison awaiting a no-jury trial for attempted murder.
He was one of the men arrested for a brutal shooting in Redburn cemetery, earlier this year.
Said a security source: “Blackie would have been the one who put up a fight against the UVF.
“With him off the streets and behind bars, things were able to calm down a little.”
Black is another known drug dealer and another associate of Warnock, with over 100 convictions to his name.
Another leading LVF figure, who was released from prison in mid September, and has remained close to home, is Lawrence ‘Duffer’ Kincaid.
He was charged earlier this year with intimidation in relation to an incident in which he suffered a serious gunshot wound.
Before that shooting incident, Kincaid, who has already served jail time for drugs offences, beat a major drugs rap after an “ecstasy distribution centre” was unearthed in the Ballysillian area of north Belfast.
cmcguigan@belfast telegraph.co.uk