Maginness: OFMDFM must come clear on UDA funding

Thursday 7 May 2009

SDLP Justice spokesman Alban Maginness has called on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to come clean and reveal if people linked to the UDA are being funded in new roles with public money.

MAGINNESS: OFMDFM MUST COME CLEAN ON UDA FUNDING

SDLP Justice spokesman Alban Maginness has called on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to come clean and reveal if people linked to the UDA are being funded in new roles with public money.

Mr Maginness reminded Martin McGuinness that he stated in the Assembly in Oct 07 that 'I am absolutely opposed to any funding whatsoever going to the UDA, whether it decommissions its weapons or not.'

He said: "Margaret Ritchie took a brave and principled stand regarding the funding of projects linked to the UDA.

"All right-minded people stood by her decision and she was vindicated in a court of law on the substantive issues.

"The Social Development Minister made it clear her department no longer funds UDA-linked projects and will never again while she is in charge or the UDA fails to give up their guns.

"And she stated that those linked to the UDA involved in the Farset project had all left.

"Which begs the question - where have they gone and who is funding them?

"It is widely known that those people in question are now working in peace and reconciliation roles supposedly funded with money from Europe.

"The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister need to make it clear who exactly approved this funding.

"For it was Martin McGuinness who stated in the floor of the Assembly on 22 October 2007, 'I speak on behalf of everyone on the Executive when I say that I am absolutely opposed to any funding whatsoever going to the UDA, whether it decommissions its weapons or not.'

"The law-abiding people of Northern Ireland deserve an answer and I will be raising this in the Assembly at the earliest opportunity.

"For 15 years since they announced their ceasefire, the UDA has refused to decommission a single bullet.

"The continued existence of paramilitary groups and criminal elements in our society cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. One of the fundamental tests of moving towards a fully normalised society is the removal of the last vestiges of paramilitary control over our communities.

"Those living in loyalist communities have had their patience tested long enough and want to see progress without delay.

"Until all paramiltary groups, loyalist and dissident republican, are consigned to the past, the full potential for our community's shared future cannot be realised."

ENDS