UPRG label Dallat's claims 'pathetic'

Mr Dallat recently alleged the UDA was paying members of Ulster Young Militants to paint hate slogans on the walls in Coleraine and urged the Independent Monitoring Commission to investigate the activities of the group.

But Ali Crawford of the UPRG told The Coleraine Times Mr Dallat does not want to see the good work being carried out in Coleraine.

"Mr Dallat's comments regarding the UDA recruiting young children to paint graffiti around Coleraine are absolutely pathetic," he said.

"Graffiti appears everywhere and there is very little anyone can do to stop it.

"Mr Dallat doesn't want to acknowledge the good work that has taken place in Coleraine and in particular Ballysally, where a major re-imaging project has taken place. He prefers to call the estate 'medieval'.

"There used to be eight Loyalist murals in Ballysally but now there are only two and residents have recently completed a mural commemorating the Battle of the Somme.

"The UPRG and local community workers continue to work hard to have the other murals removed.

"Mr Dallat never mentions the Republican flags or graffiti which appear. He gives people the impression he is not interested in peace, instead all he wants to do is drag up old sores which cause distress.

"If he would open his eyes and see the only group of people going against The Agreement at this time is the Republican movement.”

Mr Crawford added: "It seems that Mr Dallat and Mr Leonard are only interested in seeing who is the greenest. They should be interested in things which will help drive Northern Ireland forward instead of harping back to things which only cause conflict."