Serious questions need to be answered about the UVF’s ceasefire following the shooting of Bobby Moffett, the Assembly heard today.
The minister for justice needs to provide answers about the paramilitary group’s commitment to peace, Alban Maginness, SDLP MLA for North Belfast, said.
Mr Moffett (43) was shot dead at point-blank range on the Shankill Road in Belfast on Friday afternoon. He was a former loyalist prisoner but police have refused to say who they believe was responsible for his death.
Mr Maginness said: “A number of serious questions arise and have to be posed to the UVF. Is it still a paramilitary organisation, is it still actively involved in violence or is that organisation no longer extant as a paramilitary organisation and there are elements who purport to represent that organisation and carried out allegedly this murder?”
He said he hoped Justice Minister David Ford would report to the Assembly.
A total of three people have been arrested by police.
Raymond McCord, whose son was murdered by the UVF 13 years ago, has blamed the UVF for the killing.
Susan Moffett, Mr Moffett’s mother, has branded the gunmen cowardly scum but called for no retaliation.
Nigel Dodds, DUP MLA for North Belfast, said: “The main plea that I would make today to this house on behalf of the overwhelming number of people that I and colleagues represent on the Shankill Road is for no further acts of violence or retaliation, for people to remain calm, for justice to be done, for those who have carried out this act to be brought to the courts and to be tried and convicted in that way and everybody should play their part in doing that piece of work.”
Sinn Féin and the UUP also condemned the killing.
A Department of Justice spokesman said the shooting was under investigation by police and it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.
PA