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Visit by DUP's Paul Givan to UDA-linked office ‘an incredible lapse in judgement'

Communities minister Paul Givan reinstated the £200,000 Musical Instruments for Bands Programme in July
Communities minister Paul Givan reinstated the £200,000 Musical Instruments for Bands Programme in July

DUP minister Paul Givan showed "an incredible lapse in judgement" in visiting a Shankill community office a day after a BBC investigation claimed it was used as an unofficial headquarters of the UDA, the SDLP leader has said.

Colum Eastwood, chair of Stormont's communities committee, said he was deeply concerned by the visit and called on the Communities Minister to explain his position.

Mr Givan visited the Lower Shankill Community Association offices last Wednesday - less than 24 hours after a BBC Spotlight probe claimed it was used as an unofficial headquarters of the UDA.

He posed for pictures along with MP Nigel Dodds.

Belfast councillor Frank McCoubrey, Belfast Lord Mayor Brian Kingston and assembly member William Humpreys were also present.

Mr Eastwood said he will raise the visit at a meeting of the communities scrutiny committee this week and will request that Mr Givan explain his position.

"As time goes on, more and more questions are raised about which communities Paul Givan really represents as Minister," he said.

"First we saw him grin widely, suit clad, as he lit eleventh night bonfires while his department remains silent on regulating the annual pyres which are often bedecked in national flags, election posters and effigies of nationalist politicians.

"Now, a mere 24 hours after a BBC Spotlight investigation levelled serious claims that the Lower Shankill Community Association offices are being used as an unofficial headquarters for the UDA, the Minister believed it was appropriate that he should pose there for photos with DUP colleagues. Does he not see how that looks to the public? Especially given the fawning statements issued by DUP Leader Arlene Foster after awarding Charter NI £1.7m in Social Investment Funds?

"The Minister has displayed, at best, an incredible lapse in judgement and, at worst, has provided succour to those intent on maintaining a stranglehold on that community."

During Wednesday's visit, loyalist community workers from the Shankill including Denis Cunningham and Ian McLaughlin posed beside the DUP minister and posted the picture on social media.

Mr Cunningham, a member of the Ulster Political Research Group, was jailed in 2005 after pleading guilty to membership of the UFF.

The charge followed a press conference in 2002 when he read a statement on behalf of the organisation wearing his glasses over a balaclava.

Several community workers with no links to the UDA were also pictured with the minister.

The visit on Wednesday came within hours of the organisation featuring on a BBC Spotlight programme which raised questions about the purpose of the government-funded office.

The investigation interviewed a member of the west Belfast UDA who claimed that the offices of the LSCA, while carrying out legitimate community development work, were also being used as "UDA headquarters, C Company headquarters, that's where it all happens from".