UVF calls end to terror campaign

news.bbc.co.uk...

GREAT NEWS!!

This is a wonderful day for the people of Northern Ireland, a wonderful day. A great day for the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

Another big step towards a lasting, binding, permanent peace.

Certainly something to be extremely proud of and very grateful for.

Totally agree.

Fantastic news.

I don't mean this to undermine the significance of what has happened but if we can just get a little sanity over the UVF's weaponry being destroyed ('put beyond use' as opposed to the UVF's present 'put beyond reach') then we'll really be giving all the people confidence.

Bit by bit though and I welcome this move as yet another very positive & significant example of the things some of us thought we'd never live to see.

Great stuff.

I'll believe the UVF are 'stepping down' when they stop selling drugs and asking for protection money.

They haven't been a 'military force' for years. They're gangsters pure and simple.

Whats the point of keeping the guns if they're going to be put beyond use. They should bring in independant witnesses. They should openly surrender their weaponry if they are going to get the belief of the republican community.

It is one thing to speak about your plans, but another to make them.

A bit off topic, but is was nice to see the head of the IRA and the UVF or UDA had a meeting with each other. Unfortunately I cannot remember the name of the loyalist gang because it was a wee while ago

Im sure their weapons will be destroyed at some point but things arent that simple...they probably have to bring their members and supporters along bit by bit the same as the provos had to do and even then they had some splits (RIRA CIRA)....this is a step and then there will be another step...

As The_Coo says, its done step by step. Looking away at from the IRA and the UVF, there are also other paramilitary groups, such as the INLA, who still have weapons. The worse thing that could happen is that these fringe organisations decide to take centre stage and start the troubles again. Some people seem to have forgotten about them, but they still exist. These gangs are part of the rise of Tiger Robberies which have been taking place lately. Even after the UVF has fully disbanded, there will still be a lot of work to do with these smaller gangs.

Here's hoping that were on the right path now......finally