In an interview with The Times on Sunday a leading figure in Ulster Loyalism has said that a Brexit deal which separates the North from Britain in an economic capacity could result in loyalist terrorist attacks in Republic.
Robert Girvan, a prominent loyalist from Belfast, told the Times:
“I can’t see loyalism of any strand just walking into a situation where there is any type of economic union with the Irish Republic. I was talking to someone who said we’ll see how hard the border is if bombs start going off in Limerick.”
Sources within the Ulster Volunteer Force also told the paper that the group is planning to organise demonstrations and protests should a Brexit deal in anyway dilute the North’s union with Britain.
Meanwhile, the Ulster Defence Association, has allegedly adopted a “wait and see” approach but they too are expected to respond in some form should Northern Ireland be separated from Britain by remaining inside a customs union with the Republic and EU.
In response DUP Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson said that “all our decisions should be based on the ballot box, not the threat of violence”.
And added:
“The United Kingdom is a democracy,”
While UUP MLA Doug Beattie said the rhetoric “must be dialled down” and warned we could “accidentally” fall back into violence.
On Thursday afternoon it was announced that the UK and EU had agreed on a Brexit deal which would mean the North of Ireland remaining inside the customs union in all but name.
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