29/03/2007

South east Antrim leader expelled from UDA

The south east Antrim leader of the Ulster Defence Association and his advisor have been expelled from the organisation.

The two men have not been named officially in the statement from the ‘inner council’ of the organisation. However, it is understood they are the so-called Brigadier of south east Antrim Gary Fisher and his political advisor Tommy Kirkham.

The statement revealed the men were thrown out following lengthy discussions.

Last October Kirkham caused outrage when he claimed a south east Antrim unit, responsible for a dozen murders during the Troubles, wished to become a community development body. They also backed the Shoukri brothers and their allies who were driven out of north Belfast last year.

The news of their expulsion comes just days after £1m was allocated to a three year project aimed at helping end paramilitary in loyalist areas.

Kirkham also recently asked for £8.5 million, under the banner of Beyond Conflict to help end criminality in the area.

(JM/SP)

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