Historic Disarmament of Paramilitaries in Northern Ireland

(27 June 09 - RV) Northern Ireland's oldest paramilitary group, the Ulster Volunteer Force, has announced its full disarmament.

It’s been  a long-sought peacemaking move that if confirmed will reinforce the Protestant group’s abandonment of attacks on the province's Catholic minority.

The UVF, was  responsible for killing more than 500 people from 1966 to 1994.

Protestant paramilitary group, the Ulster Defense Association, is also expected to confirm that it also has begun to disarm.

We spoke to Belfast based policy analyst Robin Wilson, who says that while the announcement will likely be welcomed in political circles the public’s reactions will probably be less favourable.