EU-UK trade row: Fears Northern Ireland paramilitaries ‘will take law into own hands’

Northern Ireland: Potential for ‘violence’ is there says Edwards

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Dr Aaron Edwards, an expert in Loyalist paramilitarism has warned that the potential for “violence” remains in post-Brexit Northern Ireland. London and Brussels remain at over the final arrangements surrounding the Northern Ireland protocol, Dr Edwards has warned that in the negotiations failed to deliver concrete “concessions” in the eyes of more radical Loyalist groupings, then paramilitaries may “take the law into their own hands.”

Dr Edwards told Express.co.uk: “There’s always potential there I think for violence.

“But certainly protest action and radical protest action we’re seeing, and you know, they have certainly the capability.

“I, you know I’m not as well versed in their kind of violent capability of beyond their structures and their kind of intent their intent at the moment is not to engage in violence.

“That may change over the coming weeks and months if they don’t see concessions being given.

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“Like all terrorist organisations over the world, they’re looking, they’re in the business of concessions, and if they don’t see concessions being given to them.

“I think that there are those are elements within those groups that may take the law into their own hands, and that’s certainly a worrying, development.”

Dr Edwards also warned that continued “radicalization” over the Protocol may draw more young people into paramilitary groups, as well as spark the fracture of the UVF and UDA into new splinter groups.

Northern Ireland may become 'serious problem' warns Rogers

“If we see more radicalization and extremism around the Northern Ireland protocol we could see new paramilitary groups emerge,” continued Dr Edwards.

“So I am not going to say that that won’t happen.

“I think there is always a danger that may happen.”

It comes as former UK Permanent Representative to the EU Sir Ivan Rogers  told LBC the UK faces another “major crisis” over NI protocol “this side of Christmas.” 

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LBC host Matt Frei asked former UK Permanent Representative to the EU: “Is Northern Ireland going to become a really serious political problem, I mean, conflict on the streets. If this isn’t sorted out?

“Yes, I think it would,” replied Sir Ivan. 

“I think it’s essentially sorted out and both sides need to work together over the next few weeks but I do think we’ll have another major crisis, probably the side of Christmas.

“Because the two sides are still very far apart in their conceptions of what the end game.”

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