UDA target their former political leaders

The UDA said a vendetta against former Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) members Gary McMichael and David Adams is an internal matter and has accused both men of using the unionist paramilitary group to further their careers and social standing.

Former UDP spokesperson Adams, a member of the Lisburn's District Policing Partnership (DPP), had his home at Maze, just outside Lisburn, attacked last week and reports of threats against a drug awareness scheme managed by McMichael emerged on Monday 20 October.

Elements of the UDA are opposed to Adams' membership of the DPP and the UDA also refused permission for Adams to address the Progressive Unionist Party's conference last Saturday.

The one time UDP leaders refused to comment on the threats and attacks

The UDP was disbanded two years ago amid tensions within loyalism, which saw it pull out of the Weston Park talks and the UDA withdrew its support for the Good Friday Agreement.