UDA feud fears
A senior loyalist source has confirmed that the North Belfast UDA has rejected the Inner Council’s decision to expel the Shoukri brothers and their associate Alan McClean.
The move has sparked fears that a standoff will take place between UDA members and those of its North Belfast faction.
The senior loyalist source insisted that the UDA’s ruling inner council did not want any blood letting similar to the last UDA feud in 2002.
But he said he predicted an “incident of some sort” would have to happen to break the deadlock.
“People on the ground are frightened of opening their mouths. They’re being told ‘if you don’t support us we’ll get you’. It’s extremely volatile. The leadership doesn’t want another feud but something will have to happen, I have no doubt about that.”
The source went on to say that previous attempts by UDA factions to break away from the main body of the loyalist paramilitary group had failed.
“It didn’t work for Johnny Adair, the ‘Bacardi Breezer Brigadier’. He has more b***s than the Egyptians and he didn’t succeed, so I don’t think it will work this time.”
After the UDA Inner Council announced they were expelling the three men from the paramilitary organisation, graffiti defying the expulsions appeared on walls in the Westland estate.
On Wednesday a statement from the North Belfast UDA said they no longer recognised the Inner Council’s authority and would not tolerate any interference in “its area”.
Journalist:: Áine McEntee
