The Five Demands

E’ avvenuto questa mattina ad Armagh, lo storico incontro tra il Cardinal Sean Brady e l’Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG), un gruppo politico legato al Ulster Defence Association (UDA).
L’incontro di oggi è l’ultima fase di una serie di sforzi per persuadere i paramilitari lealisti a entrare nel mainstream politico e smantellare le armi.
Shaun Woodward, Segretario dell’Irlanda del Nord, ha minacciato sanzioni nel caso l’UDA non dovesse provvedere a dismettere il suo arsenale al più presto.
Il Primo Ministro Peter Robinson, subito dopo i due attentati messi a segno dal Rira e dal Cira nel mese di marzo, aveva elogiato la gruppi lealisti per aver evitato ritorsioni.
P. Tim Bartlett, segretario del Northern Ireland Catholic Council on Social Affairs, si è espresso in merito all’icontro di oggi, dicendo “Egli (il Cardinale) si rivolge al UPRG perchè usi la sua influenza al fine di incoraggiare i gruppi lealisti a respingere l’opzione della violenza una volta per tutte, in modo che i figli di questa e delle future generazioni possano vivere in pace”.
Frankie Gallagher, portavoce del UPRG, ha detto l’incontro con il cardinale non avrebbe potuto avere luogo anche solo due o tre anni fa ed è stata, quella di oggi, una storica occasione ed ha aggiunto “Abbiamo bisogno di persone che abbiano un po ‘di pazienza, ma penso che questo sarà un anno positivo per l’intera società dell’Irlanda del Nord. “Posso dire che l’UPRG sta sta lavorando alla creazione di un ambiente in cui la violenza politica non è più un’opzione praticabile e le armi sono una cosa del passato”.

Cardinal to meet loyalist delegation (The Irish Times)
Catholic Primate Cardinal Seán Brady is to hold talks with the Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG), a political group linked to the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), at his residence in Armagh today.
Cardinal Brady will use the meeting to urge the UDA to hand over its weapons as pressure continues to mount on the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), to finally begin decommissioning.
Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward has threatened the group, responsible for numerous sectarian murders during the conflict, with sanctions if it does not act soon.
Today’s meeting is the latest stage in a series of efforts to persuade loyalist paramilitaries to enter the political mainstream and decommission their arms.
They have included contacts between President Mary McAleese and her husband Martin with Jackie McDonald, the UDA brigadier in south Belfast.
There were concerns that the recent Real IRA and Continuity IRA murders of two soldiers and a PSNI officer could trigger loyalist reprisals. First Minister Peter Robinson recently praised the loyalist groups for avoiding retaliation.
Concerns about a continuing loyalist paramilitary threat, the dissident republican murders, decommissioning and drug dealing will be among the issues raised by the cardinal at this week’s meeting, according to Fr Tim Bartlett, secretary to the Northern Ireland Catholic Council on Social Affairs.
“He will appeal to the UPRG to use its influence to encourage loyalist groups to reject the option of violence once and for all so that the children of this and future generations can live in peace.”
Frankie Gallagher, the UPRG spokesman, said the meeting with the cardinal could not have taken place three or even two years ago and was an “historic” occasion.
He said they would reassure Cardinal Brady the issue of weaponry was being managed by the UDA.
“We need people to have a little patience but I think this will be a good year for the whole society of Northern Ireland.
“I can go so far as to say the UPRG is working towards creating an environment where political violence is no longer a viable option and weapons are a thing of the past.”