16th January 2002

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People sceptical of UDA statements

Sinn Fein Chief Whip Alex Maskey has said that many people will be justifiably sceptical at this mornings statement from the Red Hand Defenders and last nights statement from the UFF.

Mr. Maskey said:

``These statements are the latest in a series of statements from these groups. Up until now the UDA is continuing to deny it has any involvement in the ongoing pogrom against the Catholic community. The facts do not back this up. From Tony Blair down we all know that the UDA have been behind over 300 bomb attacks and were responsible for the killing of Daniel McColgan at the weekend, and indeed have killed almost 20 people over the past two years.

``The UDA and the RHD are one and the same. What the nationalist community wants to hear is that they are going to stop attacking and killing catholics. Given the past record of the UDA in telling the truth many people will be rightly sceptical of these most recent statements.''

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