Ulster Political Research Group - 2007 Funding Row

2007 Funding Row

In March 2007 the British government announced plans to give £1 million to a Farset Youth and Community Development project designed to move the UDA away from paramilitarism. The announcement followed an initiative by the UPRG to consult with UDA activists, culminating in the publication of a business plan to facilitate a Conflict Transformation Initiative. The move was supported by Chief Constable Hugh Orde who was seen to shake hands with Jackie McDonald, a senior loyalist believed to be the UDA's leading figure in the south of the city. In direct contrast to the statement by leading Police Service of Northern Ireland officer Det Supt Esmond Adair, who claimed that the UDA was still heavily involved in extortion. Orde was to later criticise the UDA following the shooting of a police officer in Castlmara by dissident elements associated with Kirkham's South East Antrim-based Beyond Conflict Group. Further disturbances took place in Bangor, were again members of the UDA East Belfast group represented by Gallagher were said to fire shots at the police during a police raid against criminals living in Killcooley Estate.

This led Margaret Ritchie Minister for Social Development to say that she would pull the plug on the £1.2m project run by Farset, if the UDA did not begin to decommission in 60 days. She further called on the group to begin a meaningful dialogue with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, the group responsible for overseeing decommissioning and led by General John de Chastelain. McDonald had stated that he was reluctant to see the UDA decommission because of the threat posed by dissident republican groups. However ultimately McDonald was credited with convincing the UDA to go through with the process when the UDA decommissioned in 2010.