One man was killed and another critically injured when he was shot several times yesterday (Monday). Both men were attacked in Belfast in what is the latest development in a loyalist feud.
As with the murder of Jameson Lockhart and a gun attack in north Belfast some days ago, this latest killing and attempted murder are believed to be part of a vicious dispute between the UVF and the LVF.
The PSNI has said that since the murder of Mr Lockhart it has made its presence very visible in areas where attacks could possibly be carried out. The police have also made a number of arrests and they must be congratulated on this.
After yesterday's events the police appealed for calm and called on community representatives to do all they can to calm the situation down.
A number of unionist politician's have done just that. Chris McGimpsey said "The last thing we need is another loyalist feud," and the Ulster Unionist councillor went on "Both sides need to take a long look at themselves before they plunge our community into a feud".
Nigel Dodds also appealed for "calm and restraint at this very difficult time".
The DUP MP for north Belfast continued: "As we approach the 11th night bonfires and the Twelfth itself it is vital that everyone with influence uses it to defuse the situation."
Nigel Dodds went on to appeal to the security minister to provide the necessary resources to "deal with everything they have to contend with over the next 48 hours and beyond".
Undoubtedly very sensible advice and laudable sentiments. But two men have been murdered, another has been critically injured and attempts have been made on other lives. Surely something more strident than appeals for calm are needed.
While the UVF and LVF are engaged in some sort of power struggle – the exact reasons for which no-one really knows – the UDA are also apparently troubled by internal rifts.
Last week we had the unedifying spectacle of hundreds of UDA members facing each other down after a number of attacks on bars in different areas of Belfast. It would not take a lot for that dispute to end in death and injury as well.
As we await a statement from the IRA, hopefully bringing an end to that organisation's existence, is it too much to hope for loyalist organisations to do the same?
It is surely not too much to hope for a concerted effort from all shades of political opinion towards that goal. Think of the police resources which could then be freed up to deal with other forms of criminality.
