Editing Ulster Defence Association (section)

===Post-ceasefire activities===
Its ceasefire was welcomed by the [[Northern Ireland]] Secretary of State, [[Paul Murphy, Baron Murphy of Torfaen|Paul Murphy]], and the [[Chief Constable]] of the [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]], [[Hugh Orde]].

[[File:UFF flag in Finvoy.JPG|thumb|left|200px|A UFF flag in Finvoy, a rural area of County Antrim]]

Since the ceasefire, the UDA has been accused of taking [[vigilante]] action against alleged rival drug dealers,<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=http://www.independentmonitoringcommission.org/publications.cfm?id=31 |title=Eighth Report of the Independent Monitoring Commission |publisher=Independentmonitoringcommission.org |date=1 February 2006 |access-date=16 June 2010 |archive-date=7 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100807211957/http://www.independentmonitoringcommission.org/publications.cfm?id=31 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> including [[tarring and feathering]] a man on the Taughmonagh estate in south Belfast.<ref>Henry McDonald [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/northernirelandassembly/story/0,,2160847,00.html Terror gangs fight to keep street power] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024194244/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/northernirelandassembly/story/0,,2160847,00.html |date=24 October 2007 }}, ''The Observer'', 2 September 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2008.</ref><ref>Henry McDonald [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2239941,00.html Law and order Belfast-style as two men are forced on a 'walk of shame'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116095312/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2239941,00.html |date=16 January 2008 }}, ''The Observer'', 13 January 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2008.</ref> It has also been involved in several [[Loyalist Feud|feud]]s with the UVF, which led to many killings. The UDA has also been riddled by its own internecine warfare, with self-styled "brigadiers" and former figures of power and influence, such as [[Johnny Adair]] and [[Jim Gray (UDA member)|Jim Gray]] (themselves bitter rivals), falling rapidly in and out of favour with the rest of the leadership. Gray and [[John Gregg (UDA)|John Gregg]] are amongst those to have been killed during the internal strife. On 22 February 2003, the UDA announced a "12-month period of military inactivity".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=229252003 |title=Scotland on Sunday |publisher=Scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com |access-date=16 June 2010 |archive-date=16 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116020824/http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=229252003 |url-status=live }}</ref> It said it would review its ceasefire every three months. The [[UPRG]]'s [[Frankie Gallagher]] has since taken a leading role in ending the association between the UDA and drug dealing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.4ni.co.uk/northern_ireland_news.asp?id=68155 |title=Loyalist Drug Dealers Are "Scum" Says UPRG |publisher=4ni.co.uk |date=6 November 2007 |access-date=16 June 2010 |archive-date=5 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605041523/http://www.4ni.co.uk/northern_ireland_news.asp?id=68155 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following an August 2005 ''[[Sunday World]]'' article that poked fun at the gambling losses of one of its leaders, the UDA banned the sale of the newspaper from shops in areas it controls. Shops that defy the ban have suffered arson attacks, and at least one newsagent was threatened with death.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/article/040805/sunday_world_faces|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215212147/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/article/040805/sunday_world_faces|url-status=dead|title=Press Gazette|archive-date=15 December 2005}}</ref> The [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]] began accompanying the paper's delivery vans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060106084530/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-1507-1743605-1187,00.html|url-status=live|title=The Times & The Sunday Times|archive-date=6 January 2006|website=[[The Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/irish_news/arts2005/aug16_Loyalists_dont_want_to_face_up__SMcKay.php |title=Nuzhound |publisher=Nuzhound |access-date=16 June 2010 |archive-date=12 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612094856/http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/irish_news/arts2005/aug16_Loyalists_dont_want_to_face_up__SMcKay.php |url-status=live }}</ref> The UDA was also considered to have played an instrumental role in loyalist riots in Belfast in September 2005.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4244158.stm |title=BBC |work=BBC News |date=14 September 2005 |access-date=16 June 2010 |archive-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923161136/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4244158.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 13 November 2005 the UDA announced that it would "consider its future", in the wake of the standing down of the Provisional IRA and [[Loyalist Volunteer Force]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1113/north.html |title=RTÉ |publisher=RTÉ.ie |date=13 November 2005 |access-date=16 June 2010 |archive-date=23 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110223020209/http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1113/north.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 2006, the [[Independent Monitoring Commission]] (IMC) reported UDA involvement in organised crime, drug trafficking, counterfeiting, extortion, money laundering and robbery.<ref name="auto1"/>

[[File:UFF D Company mural.png|thumb|right|250px|A UDA/UFF mural in Bangor]]

On 20 June 2006, the UDA expelled [[Shoukri brothers|Andre Shoukri and his brother Ihab]], two of its senior members who were heavily involved in [[organised crime]]. Some saw this as a sign that the UDA was slowly coming away from crime.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/5099082.stm?ls |title=BBC Report |work=BBC News |date=20 June 2006 |access-date=16 June 2010 |archive-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923161140/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5099082.stm?ls |url-status=live }}</ref> The move did see the southeast [[County Antrim|Antrim]] brigade of the UDA, which had been at loggerheads with the leadership for some time, support Shoukri and break away under former UPRG spokesman [[Tommy Kirkham]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article2402742.ece|title=UDA expels south east Antrim brigade chiefs|access-date=19 February 2008|archive-date=6 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106131242/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article2402742.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Other senior members met with [[Taoiseach]] [[Bertie Ahern]] for talks on 13 July in the same year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=75152&pt=n |title=UTV report |publisher=U.tv |access-date=16 June 2010 |archive-date=16 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316005547/http://www4.u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=75152&pt=n |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 11 November 2007 the UDA announced that the Ulster Freedom Fighters would be stood down from midnight of the same day,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7089310.stm | work=BBC News | title=UFF given the order to stand down | date=12 November 2007 | access-date=26 May 2010 | archive-date=13 November 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113103708/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7089310.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> with its weapons "being put beyond use" although it stressed that these would not be decommissioned.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/protestant-paramilitary-group-in-n-ireland-renounces-violence-1.653729 |title=CBC News: Protestant paramilitary group in N. Ireland renounces violence |publisher=Cbc.ca |date=11 November 2007 |access-date=16 June 2010 |archive-date=24 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024011229/http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/protestant-paramilitary-group-in-n-ireland-renounces-violence-1.653729 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Although the group expressed a willingness to move from criminal activity to "community development", the IMC said it saw little evidence of this move because of the views of its members and the lack of coherence in the group's leadership as a result of its decentralised structure. While the report indicated the leadership intends to move towards its stated goals, factionalism hindered this change and was the strongest hindrance to progress. Although most loyalist actions were curtailed since the IMC's previous report, most of loyalist paramilitary activity was coming from the UDA.

The IMC report concluded that the leadership's willingness to change has resulted in community tension and the group would continue to be monitored, although "the mainstream UDA still has some way to go." Furthermore, the IMC warned the group to "recognise that the organisation's time as a paramilitary group has passed and that decommissioning is inevitable." Decommissioning was said to be the "biggest outstanding issue for loyalist leaders, although not the only one."<ref name="IMC">{{cite web|url=http://www.independentmonitoringcommission.org/documents/uploads/Twentieth%20Report.pdf|title=412882_HC 1112_Text|access-date=16 June 2010|archive-date=18 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218015532/http://www.independentmonitoringcommission.org/documents/uploads/Twentieth%20Report.pdf|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

[[File:Ballyduff UFF.png|thumb|left|250px|A UDA/UFF South-East Antrim Brigade mural in Newtownabbey]]

On 6 January 2010, the UDA announced that it had put its weapons "verifiably beyond use".<ref name="decommissioned">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8442683.stm "UDA confirm guns decommissioned"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912045557/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8442683.stm |date=12 September 2017 }} BBC News. Retrieved 8 January 2010.</ref> The decommissioning was completed five weeks before a government amnesty deadline beyond which any weapons found could have been used as evidence for a prosecution.<ref name="decommissioned"/> The decommissioning was confirmed by Canadian General [[John de Chastelain]], chairman of the [[Independent International Commission on Decommissioning]], as well as [[Lord Eames]], former [[Archbishop of Armagh (Church of Ireland)|Archbishop of Armagh]] and Sir George Quigley, former top civil servant.<ref name="decommissioned2">[https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jTJRtlWuvOQhi76zBqf_eLEoIp6Q "UDA decommissions all weapons"]{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} UK Press Association. Retrieved 8 January 2010.</ref>

Chastelain stated that the decommissioning included arms, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices and the UDA stated that the arms "constitute the totality of those under their control".<ref name="decommissioned"/> Following the decommissioning the [[Ulster Political Research Group]], the UDA's political representatives, stated that the "Ulster Defence Association was formed to defend our communities; we state quite clearly and categorically that this responsibility now rests with the Government and its institutions where legitimacy resides".<ref name="decommissioned2"/> UDA representative Frankie Gallagher also stated that the group now regretted being responsible for the killing of more than 400 people.<ref>[https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hv9IEu7BFnrX5xi-fa-viPOnzStQ "Northern Ireland's outlawed Ulster Defence Association says it has fully disarmed"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100120051420/http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hv9IEu7BFnrX5xi-fa-viPOnzStQ |date=20 January 2010 }} The Canadian Press. Retrieved 8 January 2010.</ref>

[[Shaun Woodward]], the British [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]], stated that this "is a major act of leadership by the UDA and further comprehensive evidence of the success of politics over violence in Northern Ireland" and the act was also welcomed by Sinn Féin and DUP politicians.<ref>[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/uk-ireland/northern-ireland-politicians-hail-uda-move-14624747.html " Northern Ireland politicians hail UDA move "] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109131059/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/uk-ireland/northern-ireland-politicians-hail-uda-move-14624747.html |date=9 January 2010 }} ''Belfast Telegraph''. Retrieved 8 January 2010.</ref> The President of the Republic of Ireland, [[Mary McAleese]], described the decommissioning as "a very positive milestone on the journey of peace".<ref>[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0107/1224261824063.html "President hails 'milestone on journey of peace'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123170105/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0107/1224261824063.html |date=23 November 2010 }} ''The Irish Times''. Retrieved 8 January 2010.</ref> US Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] also welcomed the move as a step towards lasting peace in Northern Ireland.<ref>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2010-01/07/content_12769836.html " Clinton welcomes weapons decommission by N. Ireland's loyalist paramilitary group "]{{dead link|date=July 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Xinhua. Retrieved 8 January 2010.</ref>