Statement by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, John Reid at Hillsborough, 12 October 2001

Statement by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, John Reid at Hillsborough, 12 October 2001

"The UDA and UFF have undoubtedly been responsible for recent attacks, notably in Belfast last night. I warned them in stringent terms on 28 September that any further violence would cause me to specify them without further warning.

I have also assessed the actions of the LVF over the recent period, taking account of the murder of Martin O'Hagan two weeks ago, and have concluded that they are no longer maintaining a ceasefire.

The attacks by these organisations are incompatible with any claims to be on ceasefire. Society cannot tolerate these actions. The result is that early released prisoners associated with the UDA, UFF and LVF can now have their licences suspended and be returned to jail if they are believed to continue to support their organisation; the provisions now embodied in the Terrorism Act 2000 relating to charges of membership introduced originally after the Omagh bombing in 1998 will also apply to all three organisations; and any UDA, UFF or LVF person found guilty of a scheduled offence that took place before the Good Friday Agreement cannot qualify for early release provisions."

The UDA, UFF and LVF were therefore specified from midnight Friday 12 October 2001.

The Real IRA, Continuity IRA , Red Hand Defenders, and Orange Volunteers, were already specified.