UDA guns ultimatum 'not debated'

The UDA was given 60 days to begin an arms move

The Stormont Executive refused to discuss government funding for a loyalist project following UDA violence, a minister has said.

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie has given the UDA 60 days to begin decommissioning or she is to cut funding for a loyalist initiative.

However, she said that before making her decision, she had wanted to discuss the matter with her colleagues.

But she told the BBC's Inside Politics programme her request was declined.

"This issue was never discussed at the executive," she said.

"I have written to my executive colleagues and they quite clearly see it as an issue for the minister for social development.

"I understand that the minister for agriculture was on this programme last week, where she clearly articulated that it was a matter for the minister for social development."

She told the same programme, there would be no fudge on the decommissioning issue and it had to be verified by the arms body.

Margaret Ritchie said her colleagues declined a discussion

In March, the Northern Ireland Office pledged more than £1m to the Conflict Transformation Initiative (CTI) project involving the Ulster Political Research Group - which gives political analysis to the UDA.

The project aims to encourage redevelopment in loyalist communities.

On 10 August, Ms Ritchie said she would not keep supporting the project without clear decommissioning evidence and reduced criminality.

Recent violence in Carrickfergus and Bangor was linked to the UDA.

The minister said the actions were a "clear breach" of the basis on which funding was awarded, and said it was "the last chance saloon" for the UDA.