PEACE MOVE |
There had been reports of rising tensions between the group still loyal to Stephen Matthews and those aligned with Raymond Morton.
Stephen Matthews.
Loyalist leaders in east Belfast have moved to defuse rising tensions in a rare show of unity.
Deposed UVF brigadier Stephen Matthews and Raymond Morton – a key loyalist figure – last month issued a joint statement playing down attempts to increase division.
There had been reports of rising tensions between the group still loyal to Matthews and those aligned with Morton.
At the centre of the controversy was a social media post believed to have been posted by a former UVF man.
The UVF man is believed to have been behind a post on behalf of the East Belfast Memorial Committee.
Stephen Matthews.
News in 90 Seconds – Saturday November 1
In it he criticises the appearance of a badge which appeared on an existing UVF mural honouring four deceased UVF men.
The badge is alleged to represent an organisation calling itself the New UVF and is being linked to Matthews.
The person behind the social post has described those behind the badge as a “criminal gang”.
The post read: “It has been brought to our attention that in the Sydenham area an image of a breakaway gang’s badge has been erected on a gable wall alongside four images of men.
“The four men depicted are volunteers of the East Belfast Battalion of the UVF and deserve to be remembered as such. They lived as volunteers and died as volunteers.
“We request that whoever erected this gang’s badge remove it immediately. These men are not veterans and to suggest in any way that they could be associated with this gang is disgraceful.”
The post was initially taken down but has since reappeared.
It is being seen by some as an attempt to stoke tensions. There is anger that some of those stood down along with Matthews in November 2023 have been allowed to remain in the east and an element remains involved in criminality.
It is understood a number of those who sided with Matthews have now defected to the new command structure under Morton.
A spokesperson for Matthews, who denies UVF membership and involvement in crime, and Morton rubbished any notion of disagreement.
“Mr Matthews and Mr Morton are long-standing friends,” said the spokesperson.
“They remain on good terms.”
The spokesperson added: “As two individuals both passionate about the loyalist community, they both wish to emphasise they do not want to see any division within loyalism, and both are aware of bad actors seeking to turn loyalists against each other. “