Back to jail for Loyalist paramilitaries?

Troops return to the streets of Belfast

There's a vicious irony in the scene today on the Shankill Road: British troops back on patrol -- this time protecting loyalists from themselves.

But how much impact does the apparent turf war between the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Ulster Freedom Fighters have on the peace process?

The Conservatives are demanding that former paramilitary prisoners now figuring prominently at the scene of the trouble should be hauled back to prison.

The Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson insisted that -- if needs be -- he'd have no compunction about revoking prisoners' licences.

More than just a drugs war

The four hundred and twenty eight paramilitary prisoners who've been released have all signed licence agreements. They have to agree not to join an organisation that's not on ceasefire.

They must not become involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. And if they were serving a life sentence, they must not be a danger to the public.

One key question then is how far the current violence comes under the ambit of terrorist activity. Henry MacDonald is the author of a book about the UVF, and he told me that the feuding went to the heart of the peace process.

The Loyalists who murdered their rivals are the most enthusiastic about the peace process

Henry McDonald

Parity of death

Loyalism, he said, was torn between those who were for and those who were against the Good Friday Agreement. And in this case, it was LVF supporters of the peace process who had commited murder.

"Peter Mandelson has a real dilemma. He has to be shown to be strong, but the group that's killed people is the most enthusiastic about the peace process."

And he said neither Loyalist faction would come to the negotiating table until there had been a "parity of death" - an equal number of victims on both sides.

More violence to come

This morning, Gary McMichael, the leader of the Ulster Democratic Party, which has links to the UDA-UFF, appealed for an end to the violence.

Billy Hutchinson of the PUP: "The violence will continue"

On the other side of the paramilitary divide, is the Progressive Unionist Party, the political front for the Ulster Volunteer Force. The PUP's Billy Hutchinson told me there was likely to be more violence to come.

"I've been speaking to two young men this morning who live on the Shankill Road and they've received death threats".

"I don't want to see anyone dying. It's a tragedy that people died yesterday."

A positive sign

Dr Chris McGimpsey is the Ulster Unionist Councillor for West Belfast, an area which includes the Shankhill Road.

Ulster Unionist Dr Chris McGimpsey: "Soldiers on the streets is a positive sign"

He said the return of British soldiers onto the streets of Belfast was, ironically, a positive sign.

"People want to restart the violence, but it's difficult when the security forces are there."

"Every hour when we have a quasi-normal situation strengthens the chance for the violence to peter out."

Progressive Unionist Party homepage

Ulster Democratic Party homepage