Northern Ireland

LCC denies associated groups involved in violence

The Loyalist Communities Council has denied its associated groups have been involved in violence over the past week
The Loyalist Communities Council has denied its associated groups have been involved in violence over the past week The Loyalist Communities Council has denied its associated groups have been involved in violence over the past week

The Loyalist Communities Council has claimed that none of its "associated groups" has been involved in recent street violence.

The umbrella group broke its silence yesterday to urge that any action taken by the loyalist community should be "entirely peaceful".

The call came after the UDA linked Ulster Political Research Group called for calm on Thursday.

LCC is an umbrella group which represents the sections of the UDA, UVF and Red Hand Commando.

In a statement group said it again placed "on record our absolute determination to remove the hard border between Northern Ireland and the rest of our country that has been imposed on us by the Northern Ireland Protocol".

“We have repeatedly urged HM Government, political leaders and institutions to take seriously our warnings of the dangerous consequences of imposing this hard border on us and the need for earnest dialogue to resolve matters," it said.

"We reiterate that message now.

“To date, there has been a spectacular collective failure to understand properly the scale and nature of unionist and loyalist anger. Indeed there is a complete failure to understand loyalists as people and equal citizens."

The umbrella group, which has withdrawn support for the Good Friday Agreement, had been coming under pressure to comment on recent violence in loyalist districts.

Their statement comes after police suggested loyalist paramilitary groups had encouraged recent trouble.

On Thursday Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts said it was "clear there was a degree of organisation" to the violence.

Although the PSNI did not confirm paramilitary involvement, they said it was a "likely situation".

However, Mr Roberts appeared to backtrack on that position on Friday when asked about the LCC statement.

He said: "It's our overall assessment that the violence that has taken place over the last few nights is not orchestrated by a group, in the name of that group.

"There are certainly people who have been engaged in violence who are nothing to do with any illegal organisation.

"There are young people who have gotten involved and for whatever reason that they've decided to do so.

"We feel that there may be some people who could have connection to proscribed organisations, who have been present on the scenes of violence.

"But we don't believe it's been sanctioned and organised by prescribed organisations for peaceful protests."

Mr Roberts urged parents and community activists to do their part to prevent further unrest, and warned there would be serious consequence for those involved.

Meanwhile, the death of Prince Philip has appears to have resulted in the cancellation of some loyalists protests this weekend.

Concerns had been growing that planned band parades and demonstrations had the potential to turn violent.