Loyalist Communities Council (LCC): SDLP declines to say why it condemns loyalist terror but won't discuss PIRA Army Council
The SDLP has declined to say why it is calling for Stormont to crack down on loyalist paramilitaries - but refuses to discuss the ongoing role of the PIRA Army Council in NI politics.
SDLP Stormont leader Matthew O’Toole MLA issued a statement on Sunday calling for the Stormont Executive to “force” paramilitaries to leave the stage – explicitly singling out loyalist groups, but failing to mention the IRA Army Council.
In June the PSNI told the News Letter it still stands over the 2015 report published by the NIO which found that IRA members continue to believe the IRA Army Council still "oversees both PIRA and Sinn Fein with an overarching strategy".
(The report found that the IRA - while committed to the political process - is still involved in "isolated incidents of violence, including murder" gathering intelligence; engaged in organised crime, including large scale smuggling; gathering intelligence on state agents and storing weapons.)
The 2015 report found that all Troubles-era terror groups were still active.
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Mr O'Toole was speaking after several weeks of public debate about the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) meeting DUP ministers Paul Givan and Gordon Lyons.
The LCC is entirely lawful, but speaks on behalf of three outlawed terror groups – the UVF, UDA and RHC.
Mr O'Toole’s statement singled out loyalist terror groups for condemnation, ahead of an SDLP motion in the assembly today calling for a crackdown on paramilitary groups.
However, he gave details condemning loyalist groups but made no direct reference to the IRA, INLA or dissidents.
He said: “Thirty years ago today the loyalist ceasefire was declared with every paramilitary grouping ceasing violence, yet we are still in a situation where these groups exert coercive control over their communities, run large-scale criminal enterprises and even seek to have the ear of executive ministers.
“The seemingly never-ending transition process must come to an end with a clear, unambiguous full-stop on the existence and taxpayer indulgence of these structures. We care deeply about improving the lives of people in working-class loyalist communities.”
The News Letter asked Mr O'Toole if a crackdown on loyalist groups – without addressing the continuing role of the IRA, INLA or dissidents – is likely to result in a peaceful society?
He did not respond.
After standing down as Chief Constable, George Hamilton told the Nolan Show in 2022 that he believed the murder of Kevin McGuigan in 2015 was “sanctioned at senior levels” of the IRA.