A group of loyalists linked to the Co-Down feud flee to the continent amid rampant violence

After two months of feuding, tensions continued to simmer in Newtownards, Bangor and the Ards Peninsula.

Violence between rival paramilitary drug gangs – the self-proclaimed Real UFF and North Down UDA – has raged since March.

Despite attempts to negotiate, with mediators working in the background trying to stop the fighting, attacks continued.

Homes, commercial properties and vehicles have been the victims of a series of arson attacks and pipe bombings, with neither side willing to take a step back.

The Real UFF, led by gangster Adrian Price, has come under a lot of pressure.

Price himself has fled his home in Newtownards and is hiding in East Belfast under the protection of an organized crime boss.

While a group of followers still remain at the crime gang’s base at Weavers Grange on the outskirts of the West Winds estate in Newtownards, most have moved away.

The Sunday World understands they have spread across Northern Ireland – mainly in Belfast – but some have moved as far as Fermanagh – as far from Newtownards as possible while staying in Northern Ireland.

But we can also reveal that a number of gang members have sought refuge in Spain and Portugal. Four are based in the Algarve and at least two others are based in the Spanish resort of Benidorm – a popular retreat for loyalist paramilitaries.

The four Portuguese are understood to have landed on a flight from Belfast last week. Sources say they have all been warned their lives are at risk from the rival North Down UDA.

“They’re hoping the heat will subside and they can go home after a few weeks,” our source said.

“The fight has gone out of them, Aidso (Price) is losing men with a full fist. The only reason they persevered is because of the money they made from drugs.”

The scale of attacks has decreased, but the threat remains. Last week, the home of one of Price’s relatives was set on fire in Belfast.

Price’s mob exposed after being driven out by South East Antrim UDA. The Rathcoole-based terrorist group had given Price their protection in exchange for some of his gang’s drug-related crimes.

No longer under the protection of the Carrick leadership, the season was open for the gang, who renamed themselves the Real UFF.

The attacks are spearheaded by a faction led by veteran loyalist Dickie Barry. After being expelled from West Belfast UDA last year, he has now been reintegrated into the mainstream organization in Bangor.

And he has full clearance for the campaign against Price.

More than 30 families have now fled Newtownards since the Loyalist feud began, including people from a new housing area that was advertised as a “great place to live” in December last year.

The majority of those leaving the area had nothing to do with the power struggles between rival UDA factions, but local people were involved in the unrest.

Several people have since been charged and remanded in custody for incidents related to feuds.

The police have maintained a presence in the area, but so far have not been able to end the power struggles and feuds.

A senior source said the situation was “unsustainable”.

“While the attacks are about harmless things, there is such anger that someone could be seriously injured or killed.

“The PSNI are in Ards constantly, but the Loyalists know they can’t stay here forever.

“Eventually they will leave, and when they do there will be revenge attacks for everything that has happened since the crisis began in March.”