Secretary of State called on to "clear up" uncertainty of loyalist terror gangs operating in Co Derry

Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers, and the leaders of unionist parties have been called on to clear up all "outstanding ambivalences"  about the continuing existence of loyalist paramilitary groups in the North, particularly in Counties Derry and Antrim.

The call comes from East Derry SDLP MLA, John Dallat, after claims the UDA (Ulster Defence Association) was involved in the murder of Brian Mclhagga (pictured above) in Ballymoney last week.

Mr Dallat said the  murder of the 52-year-old father-of-five, who was beaten and shot at the home of his partner, who was also beaten up.

Mr Dallat said Ms Villiers and the unionist leaders need to make up their minds what kind of democracy they wanted in the North.

He added: "It seems fashionable to condemn the actions of these people but fail to confront the obvious problem of their existence.

“This is the third so-called 'punishment shooting' carried out by the UDA recently in the Ballymoney/ Coleraine area.  Stephen Clyde lost a leg after being shot in Portrush while 15 year old Matthew Campbell was maimed in Coleraine and has been living in a hostel in Belfast since because the new 'brigadier' of the UDA has decreed that he is not allowed to come home even for Christmas.

'Over the years the UDA have been responsible for more than 20 murders, sometimes carried out under the banner of the UFF. It is unacceptable that 16 years after the Good Friday Agreement people are still losing their lives while unionists are preoccupied by Orange marches in Belfast."

Mr Dallat concluded: "The Unionist leadership need to get their priorities right if their aim is to convince the international community that Northern Ireland is a democracy governed by the elected and not those who communicate with violence and intimidation.”