UDA APOLOGISES FOR DRUG DEALERS WITHIN THEIR RANKS

The Ulster Defence Association has issued a statement apologising for
drug dealers within their ranks, four months after the suicide of a
16-year-old who had taken pills sold to him by a loyalist drug dealer.

Pressure had been mounting on the UDA following the suicide of Dean
Clarke who died by suicide days after consuming more than 20 fake
diazipam style tablets, known as 'blues', which his mother said sent
the him into a spiral of deep depression.

The tablets - which are sold for just 50p each - had been purchased by
the teenager from a dealer living in the small UDA-dominated enclave
of Tigers Bay in north Belfast.

Several men and a youth named locally as having involvement in the
sale of pills linked to Dean's death have since fled the area.

A number of men have also been expelled from the UDA's ranks,
following an "investigation" by the paramilitary organisation.

Dean's family are said to have been informed of the findings of the
UDA "investigation".

In a statement yesterday the UDA said: "Although we cannot undo or
rewrite history we can apologise unequivocally for the action of these
former members and the past hurt and damage criminality within our
ranks has caused to the Protestant community.

"After extensive consultation with its rank and file members and
dialogue with representatives from the Protestant community, the
ruling inner council of the UDA has adopted and launched a
province-wide zero drug dealing/extortion policy in relation to any
member or associates involved in these criminal activities.

"The north Belfast leadership fully support and endorse the
implementation of this policy.

"For those of you whom words are not and never will be enough we
invite you to witness the changes on the ground in the months ahead.

"To clarify this policy, the membership of the north Belfast UDA is
forbidden to sell drugs or extort businesses and if found after
internal investigation to be engaged in either activity will be
expelled from our ranks immediately.

"Our membership have been warned in relation to this policy and any
allegations presented to us will be investigated fully regardless of
what rank or position those accused may hold."

A police operation following the teenager's death has yielded no
charges to date with files having been sent to the Public Prosecution
Service in relation to fivepeople.

The Dean Clarke Trust to help prevent high levels of suicide among
young people living in deprived loyalist communities has since been
set up in memory of the teenager.