Politicians and church leaders have welcomed another milestone on Northern Ireland’s road to normality after the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) announced it has decommissioned its arsenal.

The Ulster Defence Association (UDA), the biggest loyalist terror group, also said yesterday it had started a decommissioning process “which will be completed within a previously notified time-scale”.

General John de Chastel-ain, who heads the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD), has confirmed to the UK and Irish governments that he believes the leadership of the UVF and Red Hand Commando, a group with whom it shares weapons, have put all armaments under their control beyond use.

The IICD says it has also witnessed decommissioning of arms belonging to the UDA and Ulster Freedom Fighters. “This is a significant move and we look forward to completing the process of putting all UDA/UFF arms beyond use at an early opportunity,” it said.

Billy Hutchinson, a former UVF member who acted as the link between the organisation and de Chastelain, said talks between the UVF and the IRA on how to prevent trouble had helped loyalists to reach their decision.

Frankie Gallagher, a spokesman for the UDA’spolitical wing, paid tribute to the role played by President Mary McAleese and her husband, Martin, as well as unionist parties, in facilitating decommissioning.

Martin McAleese has had several meetings with UDA leaders and has tried to steer government and private sector funding into loyalist areas.

The UDA had attempted to negotiate with the British government for the release of about 20 prisoners but this has been refused, though a review of their prison conditions is under way.

Gallagher denied that any financial compensation had been paid for decommissioning, though he said money was needed in loyalist areas. “I now think the union \ is secure. I understand now what republicans mean when they talk about republicanism,” he said.

“I also know there are many Roman Catholics who see themselves as British. Can we not all live together and create a Northern Ireland that has a common identity?”

Jeanette Ervine, the widow of David Ervine, former leader of the UVF’s political wing, said disarmament was what her husband, a former UVF bomb maker, had worked for, and she was saddened he was not there to witness it.