PUP man: Street violence is wrong – but people have ignored all the warnings

A former UVF man-turned-politician has said that the street violence of recent days is wrong – but that people had not heeded warnings that it was coming.
By Adam Kula
Published 6th Apr 2021, 12:22 BST
Billy Hutchinson, a former UVF terrorist and a Progressive Unionist Party councillor in Belfast City CouncilBilly Hutchinson, a former UVF terrorist and a Progressive Unionist Party councillor in Belfast City Council
Billy Hutchinson, a former UVF terrorist and a Progressive Unionist Party councillor in Belfast City Council

Billy Hutchinson, leader of the PUP, was asked by the News Letter about the possibility of UVF involvement in the recent spate of street disorder.

He replied: “I’d be disappointed if paramilitaries of any description are actually involved with this...

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“But I do think the violence isn’t any surprise to anybody, people have been warned and obviously people have actually ignored it.

“If you’re saying to me that there’s evidence other elements are winding this up, you need to show that. I don’t have any evidence for that.

“My message is very clear – having violence anywhere, even in your own communities, is not going to solve this.

“I don’t want to see any young person getting a criminal record. Violence isn’t going to achieve anything.”

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