THE Loyalist Volunteer Force was last night being blamed for the murder of a prominent GAA personality, Mr Sean Brown, of Bellaghy, Co Derry. The LVF was formed around dissident loyalists in Portadown.
Mr Brown's murder, which was the third violent death in the past week, has intensified fears of an escalation in sectarian violence.
Police believe that the LVF killed Mr Brown in retaliation for the INLA murder of RUC Constable Darren Bradshaw at the week-end. Mr Brown (61), a father of six and chairman of the local Wolfe Tones GAA club, died after he was abducted from outside the club on Monday, shortly before midnight.
There was widespread political, religious and community condemnation of the murder. Police said it bore "all the hallmarks of a sectarian killing".
Mr Martin McGuinness, the Sinn Fein MP for Mid Ulster, predicted that loyalists would observe the "now-familiar no claim, no blame policy" to create the illusion that the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC) ceasefire was still intact.
Police sources, however, say that the LVF, which does not accept the command of the CLMC, was responsible. The sources also expressed concern about the growing threat of the LVF, which is comprised of hardline loyalists in mid-Ulster who are opposed to the CLMC ceasefire.
Mr Brown lived with his wife, Bridie, only 500 yards from the premises at which he was attacked as he was locking up following a meeting on Monday night. His son, Sean jnr, had been with him, but had left for home shortly beforehand.
After a struggle outside the club, during which a shot was fired, Mr Brown was bundled into his Ford Sierra. An hour later, he was found dead beside his burning car near Randalstown, Co Antrim, about 10 miles away.
Mr Brown appears to have struggled with his abductors at the scene but to have been forced into his car eventually after a shot was fired.
Police are awaiting the results of a post mortem to determine whether he was killed at the club or whether he was shot at or near the Moneynick Road, near Randalstown.
Details of the killing were emerging yesterday as the loyalist political parties the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) and the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) - were meeting the new Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam.
Mr David Adams of the UDP confirmed that the precarious loyalist paramilitary ceasefire was discussed and that his party told Dr Mowlam that its understanding was that the "loyalist ceasefire remains intact".
But he admitted it was under severe pressure. "Obviously, with the strains and pressures put on the loyalist ceasefire by continuing actions by the IRA there has been some fraying around the edges."
Last week, Robert Ham ill died of injuries he suffered when attacked by loyalists in Portadown. On Friday night, the INLA murdered RUC Constable Darren Bradshaw in Belfast. There have been other recent sectarian attacks on people and property.
