◼️ Terror group poised to plunge Ulster into turmoil
◼️ They’re set to end 1994 truce with war on Protocol
◼️ Terror group steps up plans for violence in bid to wreck Protocol
◼️ Cross-border trade, businesses and Dublin may be in the firing line
PUP leader (UVF's politicial wing) standing under the notorious UVF mural in North Belfast was ready for removal - but not just yet! The party now no longer supports the Good Friday Agreement.
UVF hawks are ready to smash their ceasefire and plunge *orthern Ireland into crisis. Tensions within the loyalist terror group are at breaking point as they prepare to sharply escalate their campaign of disruption in protest over the Irish Sea Border. The Sunday World understands the organisation is planning a series of incidents and are prepared to resort to violence.
And that could result in targeting commercial concerns and disrupting cross-border trade. Anger in the loyalist community is already clear. Sinn Féin, SDLP and Alliance election posters were destroyed, burned and hauled down this week across the city within hours of being put up.
West Belfast SDLP Assembly candidate Paul O'Doherty was confronted on the streets of the Shankill by two carloads of men who ordered him out of the area.
Security sources say loyalists are "circling the wagons", making their areas no-go zones for anyone not sharing their opposition to the Protocol.
MESSAGE
And a clear message is that they regard Dublin as the enemy, complicit with an unyielding European Union in enforcing the Irish Sea Border. Senior loyalists, however, have played down speculation they are planning to take their campaign to the streets of Dublin but insisted Irish government figures remain targets and even suggested Irish companies doing business in the North could be targeted.
"Actions speak louder than words," a senior UVF source told us.
"There has been too much talking and not enough action, the Protocol remains in place and we simply cannot live with that. "I don't know how many times we have to say that, but up to now our words and warnings have fallen on deaf ears." When it was suggested their actions could be seen as a breach of their ceasefire, he said "so be it".
"Look at our history, we have always been prepared to do whatever it takes to defend our homeland and now it is under threat like never before. That's how serious we view the current situation." Loyalist support for the Good Friday Agreement has all but dissipated, and the historic agreement is now regarded as an act of betrayal on the loyalist community.
Last week the UVF set down its first marker with a bomb alert that forced Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney to be hustled out of a cross-community event in north Belfast. A van driver had a gun put to his head and he was forced to drive to the Houben Centre in Ardoyne in the belief he was transporting a bomb. The incident turned out to be an elaborate hoax and is believed to have been the work of the UVF's 'B Company'.
UVF Volunteers preparing to fire a 'Volley of Shots' during a Brian Robinson Parade - Standing under the Brian Robinson murel - UVF 1st Battalian 'B Company'
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar had been due in Belfast on Wednesday for meetings with business leaders, putting security services on high alert following the Coveney incident. The Fine Gael chief took part remotely after being unable to travel following a positive Covid test.
Taoiseach Michael Martin carried out a series of events in Co Derry on Friday without incident, while President Michael D Higgins is a regular visitor to the North. It is understood the Dublin government has made it clear they will not be deterred from crossing the border.
Security services are closely monitoring the UVF, It is understood the terror group has been warned through well-established lines of contact of the consequences of violence and in particular the return of guns to our streets. A violation of their 1994 ceasefire would have serious consequences/implications.
Violence also carries the risk of wider damage to the loyalist community. Government funding for community projects, already under pressure because of the UVF and UDA's failure to stand down, could be withdrawn.
Ex-prisoners' projects, job training projects and other community schemes could come under pressure. The organisation has shown it has no hesitation in breaking out their weaponry. A bus hijacked at gunpoint during anti-Protocol rioting last summer was viewed by some as a breach of their ceasefire. Security sources have admitted to the Sunday World that there is concern that anger will spill into violence.
The UVF have been blamed for a hoax that disrupted cross-border rail services this week, ironically a tactic favoured by violent republicanism during the Troubles.
SPLIT
But despite claims of unity across the loyalist paramilitary groups, the UVF is split over their planned course of action. There are those who fear a violent reaction will unleash a swift security force response and are reluctant to go down that road. However, it is the 'hawks' who are holding sway at the moment. The UDA has also taken a back seat. It is known veteran terror chief Jackie McDonald has cautioned against a violent campaign against the Protocol.
His organisation remains mired in criminality but a wholesale return to civic disruption and violence is not on the agenda as far as he is concerned.
There are also those, particularly community workers, concerned about the impact and consequences for young people caught up in the street violence.
A series of anti-Protocol rallies have been held in recent weeks and as *orthern Ireland heads into the marching season combined with what is expected to be a tense Assembly election campaign, security chiefs remain on high alert.
Follow these links to find out more about this developing story: Mid Ulster Brigade UVF
Jamie Bryson reacts idea of cutting founding to UVF-linked groups after Simon Coveney security alert
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