Tarred & Feathered

A man was subjected to a so-called 'tarring and feathering' attack in south Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Sunday.

It is thought the attack was carried out by two men wearing balaclavas as a crowd including women and children looked on. The victim was made to wear a placard reading 'I'm a drug dealing scum bag'.

Northern Ireland's Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said that this type of incident had "no place in a civilised society". "If the UDA is involved it is a stark demonstration of the thuggery and violence which I made clear has to end if the funding to the CTI (Conflict Transformation Initiative) project is to continue," she continued.

Ms Ritchie's direct rule predecessor initiated the £1.2m scheme which aimed to encourage redevelopment in loyalist communities through the UDA aligned UPRG. On 10 August, Ms Ritchie said she would withdraw support from the project unless there was clear evidence of decommissioning and reduced criminality.

Although the police was made aware of the incident by the time officers arrived in the loyalist estate, neither the victim or his attackers could be found.