Man beaten as loyalists step up Shankill feuds

A man was in hospital in Northern Ireland yesterday after being beaten with nailed baseball bats in an attack linked to the loyalist feud.

A man was in hospital in Northern Ireland yesterday after being beaten with nailed baseball bats in an attack linked to the loyalist feud.

Supporters of the outlawed Ulster Defence Association blamed the Ulster Volunteer Force for the assault on Samuel Fee, 20, and claimed they also tried to slit his throat. Mr Fee's girlfriend was unhurt.

John White of the UDP said Mr Fee appeared to have been singled out because his brother has associations with the UDA and claimed those involved were also responsible for recent murders in the feud. Three people have been killed in the past month and nearly 170 families have been forced from their homes.

Mr White said: "The UVF are out of control on the Shankill Road. Until such times as the leadership reins them in there will be no resolution to this sorry state of affairs."

The Progressive Unionists - the political party linked to the UVF - claims the UDA is behind most cases of intimidation.

Representatives of the UDP and PUP had an exploratory meeting last week.