Families flee homes as feud escalates

Soldiers patrolling the streets of the Shankill area

A number of people living in west Belfast, which has been the focal point of a feud between loyalist paramilitaries, have fled their homes in fear.

An Ulster Unionist councillor said as many as 20 families had left their homes in the Protestant Shankill Road area of the city.

It followed the murder of two men on Monday in an escalation of a dispute between the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the Ulster Defence Association/Ulster Freedom Fighters (UDA/UFF).

The violence also resulted in soldiers patrolling the streets of the city following a weekend of tension between rival loyalist paramilitaries on the Shankill Road.

Shankill Ulster Unionist Councillor Chris McGimpsey described the situation in the area as "volatile" and said people were still being intimidated.

Jim Rodgers: "20 people leaving homes"

One woman, who did not wish to be named, said you could "touch the fear".

Another said she was leaving her home for as long as it takes - she wanted to see loyalist prisoners released early under the Good Friday Agreement back behind bars.

Ulster Unionist Councillor Jim Rodgers and Ruth Petticrew of Townsend Presbyterian Church on the Shankill Road visited families who were leaving their homes.

Mr Rodgers said: "I understand from the Housing Executive that there would be as many as 20 families who have decided to leave.

"I have only spoken to a very small number and they were crying.

"They are in a very bad way basically because they have done everything to build their homes up, which has cost them a lot of money and they feel it's no longer safe to remain in this district."

Ruth Petticrew said: "The Christian church needs to get out into the community, needs to be seen to be practically involved... helping families, helping the people, working with the young people of the area, speaking to those involved and trying to find ways that we can promote genuine peace."

The presence of the army restored a degree of normality to the area and the GOC Lieutenant General Sir Hew Pike visited soldiers on Tuesday.

Army spokesman Roger Goodwin said they were playing a crucial role.

"The army goes in to help the police stabilise, sort out the situation and then withdraws. We look forward to that sooner rather than later," he said.

May Blood: Community worker

But Baroness May Blood who has been a community worker on the Shankill throughout the troubles said she did not believe the time was right for mediation.

She said at this stage neither side seemed prepared to listen.

"I think as community people, community leaders we have to get together and try to find a way round this.

"I would say to the people who are involved in this, to try and think again about what they're doing to their own community."

Assembly member Nigel Dodds of the Democratic Unionist Party spoke to community leaders on the Shankill Road.

He also met RUC Assistant Chief Constable Bill Stewart on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the situation.

He said: "The area doesn't belong to any paramilitary organisation it belongs to the ordinary people.

"I wanted to impress on their behalf on senior police chiefs the need to ensure that sufficient resources are in place to prevent any further trouble and I'm satisfied that will be the case."

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson also met security chiefs to discuss the escalating violence between the province's two main loyalist paramilitary groups.

It is understood attempts were being made to get representatives of the rival loyalist organisations to negotiate some form of truce.